200 ASIA: REPORT Hong Kong welcomed Silversea Cruises’ Silver Spirit for an overnight call at Ocean Terminal on 18 January 2023, marking the end of a three-year hiatus in international cruise ships visiting the city. Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and Ocean Terminal will receive a total of 85 ships. The majority of cruise calls will be Resorts World Cruises’ Resorts World One, which is homeporting at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal from March offering itineraries to Kaohsiung, Taiwan. “Hong Kong continues to shine as one of the world’s most exciting harbour cities and as a desirable destination for those who love to sail the oceans,” says Kenneth Wong, general manager of meetings, incentives, conference and exhibitions, and cruise, at Hong Kong Tourism Board. Most cruise operators are drawn to call at Hong Kong due to its location. As a central destination in Asia, Hong Kong is well situated for northwards itineraries towards mainland China, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, as well as southbound and eastbound trips to Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia. “This provides cruise operators with a wide option of destinations when planning their itineraries,” says Wong. The harbour’s proximity to Hong Kong International Airport also means that cruise operators can provide international guests with direct connections from cities around the world. “The ability to take innovative fly-cruise itineraries and extended regional journeys makes the cruise process much more enjoyable for guests,” says Wong. Thanks to its geographical location, cruise operators visiting Hong Kong can attract guests from mainland China with connectivity via the Hong-Kong-ZhuhaiMacao Bridge and the high-speed rail network. As part of the Greater Bay Area that has a population of 86 million, Hong Kong proves to be a lucrative home port for cruise lines to enjoy sustainable growth in local, regional and international markets. “It is hard to imagine a more spectacular arrival than sailing into Hong Kong harbour, with its dramatic skyline, bright neon lights and mountain peaks beyond,” says Wong. Visitors can also experience Hong Kong’s unique East-meets-West culture. From fine dining at Michelin-star restaurants to authentic street food, there is a variety of dishes for cruise guests to Stronger than before Hong Kong is recovering quickly from the setbacks of Covid-19 thanks to its wide variety of shore excursion offerings and easy itinerary links to North, East and South Asia Thanks to its connectivity, Hong Kong is a cruise hub for guests from mainland China
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