International cruise ship operations resume after pandemic hiatus

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

International cruise ship operations resumed in Korea on Monday after a three-year suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic.

An around-the-world cruise run by a German operator and travel agency, docked at Sokcho port in the province of Gangwon carrying approximately 500 passengers and 300 crew members.

The German cruise was the first foreign country-based cruise ship with passengers to enter Korea since February 2020, when quarantine authorities enforced restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said there have been 161 applications for port calls from cruise ships as of the end of February — 90 in Busan, 12 in Incheon, 50 in Jeju, three in Yeosu and six in Sokcho.

On June 1, the 114,500-ton Costa Serena cruise ship run by Busan-based Panstar Enterprises will leave to Japan, marking the first time since the pandemic restrictions that Korean passengers will travel internationally from a Korean port.

After lifting the cruise ban in October last year, the oceans ministry inspected cruise terminal facilities and major tourist attractions along with regional oceans offices, local governments and port authorities.

It also consulted with related agencies for the normalization of operations with the customs, immigration and quarantine officials, the ministry said.

The oceans ministry announced a plan for the post-pandemic cruise industry for 2023 through 2027.

The plan aims to draw in 500,000 tourists a year by 2027 through various promotional activities.

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