The LOI was signed in Taipei by Taiwan’s Maritime and Port Bureau (MPB), the Association for Cruises Development of Taiwan, the Korea International Cruise Research Institute and the Philippines’ Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), with the aim of attracting international cruise lines to the region.
Addressing the signing ceremony, MPB Director-General Yeh Hsieh-lung, said since countries in East Asia have rich and diversified resources to develop cruise tourism, Taiwan aims to join forces with its neighbors to push for island-hopping activities that allow international cruise lines to target islands in Asia as destinations.
More than two years ago, Yeh said, the MPB helped a trip by the “Explorer Dream” cruise ship with 1,200 passengers on board to visit Taiwan’s offshore Penghu and Matsu islands after departing from Keelung Port in the north, the first cruise trip in Asia after cruise trip suspensions amid COVID-19, indicating the great potential of cruise tourism.
Yeh said although Japan has not yet joined the AACA, Tokyo is studying the possibility of taking part.
AACA is scheduled to formally begin operations at the end of this year and the organization will integrate cruise tourism marketing and other resources among member countries to promote the alliance’s strength and attract international cruise lines, he added.
The government is hoping island-hopping trips will become a driver to Taiwan’s cruise tourism market, Yeh said.
Also attending the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Chi Wen-jong said Taiwan’s government has designated 2023 a year of renaissance for the local tourism industry and set a goal of attracting 6 million foreign tourists to the country in the first year of the post-COVID-19 era.
Cruise tourism will be a crucial part of Taiwan’s efforts to meet that goal by using island-hopping activities to penetrate the international cruise market, Chi said, adding that Taiwan is located in the center of the archipelagos in Asia and the country is determined to work with Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia to expand cruise tourism.
Speaking with a news agency, MPB Section Chief Lai Ping-jung said Taiwan looks forward to the visits of upscale expedition cruise liners which usually carry only 100 to 500 passengers, and plans special itineraries to allow passenger to gain a better understanding of culture in Kinmen, Matsu, Penghu, Green and Orchid islands.
Amid optimism toward Taiwan’s cruise market, several cruise ship operators, including France-based Ponant and Italy’s Costa Cruises, are scheduled to stop in Taiwan or use the country as a home port starting from March.
Ponant will offer a trip a year to tap upscale passengers with a cruise ship scheduled to depart from Keelung on March 24 and sail to Osaka.
During the trip the cruise ship will stop at several islands in southern Japan for expeditions. Tickets have already sold out.
For its part, Costa Cruises will return to Taiwan’s cruise market in June and offer 30 trips this year, each one lasting three to seven days.
In June, Costa Cruise will offer six trips, stopping at South Korean ports of Pusan, Sogcho and Pohang after departing Taiwan.
From July to September, Costa Cruise will offer 24 trips to Japan and visit Sasebo, Kagoshima, Otaru, Hakodate, Naha, Miyakojima and Ishigaki Island, catering to tourists from Taiwan and South Korea who favor Japan.
Tags: Taiwan's Maritime and Port Bureau (MPB), Asia Archipelago Cruise Alliance (AACA), COVID-19 pandemic, cruise tourism, Philippines' Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)
