Gangwon Tourism Foundation Makes Full Efforts to Support Departure of Costa Serena Cruise at Sokcho Port

Sokcho City and Gangwon Tourism Foundation
All-Out Efforts for Passenger Convenience
During Departure of Provincial Residents Cruise Experience Program

Sokcho City in Gangwon Province and the Gangwon Tourism Foundation (CEO Choi Sunghyun) announced on May 13 that they had operated a user-centered on-site management system at Sokcho Port International Cruise Terminal on the 12th to ensure the successful departure of the Costa Serena.

Sokcho City and the Gangwon Tourism Organization (CEO Choi Sunghyun) activated a customer-focused on-site operation system on the 12th at Sokcho Port International Cruise Terminal to ensure the successful departure of the Costa Serena. Provided by Gangwon Tourism Organization

This departure was conducted in connection with the "2026 Provincial Residents Cruise Experience Group" program, drawing a large number of visitors to Sokcho Port. In response, the foundation implemented comprehensive measures to prevent congestion caused by the large crowds in advance and to help passengers begin their journey comfortably and safely, including support for departure procedures, on-site guidance, and traffic operations.

In particular, the focus was on improving passenger mobility by operating a continuous shuttle bus service between external parking lots and the terminal, taking into account the terminal's parking conditions. This reduced the burden for travelers carrying large amounts of luggage and eased congestion at the terminal. Additionally, a separate "Meet & Greet Zone" was created to welcome and see off passengers, enhancing the excitement and hospitality of the cruise experience.

Outside the terminal, an outdoor information booth was set up and skilled staff were stationed at key points along the main routes to provide hands-on, on-site operation. By offering intuitive guidance on complex departure procedures and boarding flows, passenger inconvenience was minimized, and smooth boarding was facilitated through crowd dispersal operations. Furthermore, in response to the recent Hantavirus issue, the foundation thoroughly inspected sanitation and disinfection of key facilities within the terminal, prioritizing a safe boarding environment.

Sokcho City and the Gangwon Tourism Foundation (CEO Choi Sunghyun) have activated a user-centered on-site operation system at Sokcho Port International Cruise Terminal on the 12th to ensure the successful departure of the Costa Serena. Provided by Gangwon Tourism Foundation

During the departure and arrival of the Costa Serena cruise, approximately 700 disembarking tourists and about 2,350 new boarding passengers, totaling around 3,000 tourists, moved through Sokcho Port. Due to the nature of homeport-style cruise operations, disembarkation and new boarding took place simultaneously, leading to tangible consumption effects across the local market, including accommodation, dining, and shopping.

As tourists who had completed a cruise from Busan to Japan stayed in the region and passengers preparing for the Sokcho-to-Japan cruise made pre-departure purchases, high spending by some 3,000 people had a direct and significant impact on the local economy. This event demonstrated the potential of homeport-style cruise tourism to revitalize the regional economy, moving beyond simple port calls.

Choi Sunghyun, CEO of the Gangwon Tourism Foundation, stated, "Since the experience at Sokcho Port, the starting point of cruise travel, directly shapes the image of Gangwon tourism, we put our utmost effort into on-site management," adding, "We will continue to strengthen our support system so that domestic and international tourists visiting Sokcho Port can use the cruise services in the most convenient and safe manner possible."

Sokcho City and the Gangwon Tourism Organization (CEO Choi Seonghyun) activated a user-centered on-site operation system at Sokcho Port International Cruise Terminal on the 12th to ensure the successful departure of the ship Costa Serena. Provided by Gangwon Tourism Organization

Meanwhile, the Gangwon Tourism Foundation plans to continue hosting high-quality welcome events for arriving cruises in response to the soaring demand for cruise tourism and to develop a variety of on-site support programs that can further link these efforts to boosting the Sokcho regional economy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.