26 High Speed Rail, meaning that cruise lines can more easily attract guests from the 86 million people in the wider Greater Bay Area market. The HKTB has capitalised on this position by forming a partnership with the port of Shekou to develop a Greater Bay Area itinerary for Zhao Shang Yi Dun, the first cruise ship operated by China Merchants Viking Cruises, a joint venture between China Merchants Shekou and Viking Cruises. The partnership will help to add shore experiences and expand passenger sourcing for the cruise line while bringing more cruise visits to Hong Kong. The brand has committed to making multiple calls during the 20232024 winter season. “The HKTB continues to collaborate and communicate closely with cruise line partners to support deployment and operation in the city,” says Wong. “Funding support, shore excursion recommendations and high-profile welcome ceremonies have been lined up to help our partners promote cruise travel in source markets worldwide and put Hong Kong in the spotlight.” To cater for the expected increase in cruise tourism, Hong Kong has invested in improving the infrastructure around the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. In 2025, the city will complete construction of the Central Kowloon Route, which will connect Yau Ma Tei with the Kai Tak Development Area in Kowloon Bay and shorten the journey from the cruise terminal to key tourist districts. The journey time to the West Kowloon district, for example, will drop from 30 minutes to just five. New landmark venues are also being built in the Kai Tak Development Area, close to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. The Kai Tak Sports Park is set to become the largest sports venue in Hong Kong and offers a variety of sports and park facilities, open spaces, and retail and dining outlets. AIRSIDE, meanwhile, is a large shopping mall that officially opened in October, featuring a range of entertainment and leisure venues. The city’s vibrant range of attractions are constantly being updated and added to as well. Water World Ocean Park, an all-weather indoor and outdoor water park featuring five zones with slides, wave pools and an indoor river, opened in September 2021, and was followed in November that year by M+, Asia’s first global museum of contemporary visual culture. Hong Kong Palace Museum, home to over 900 historic treasures from the Palace Museum in Beijing, opened its doors in July 2022, and the world’s first Frozen-themed land, World of Frozen, is set to open in November 2023 at Hong Kong Disneyland. New events are also being created to add to the city’s appeal. From July to August 2023, the Harbour Chilli Carnival brought live music shows, street performances, X-Games “ The Hong Kong Tourism Board has made it a priority to recalibrate its cruise strategy to sustain long-term growth” COVER STORY M+, Asia’s first global museum of contemporary visual culture, opened in November 2021
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