Cruise tourism riding the wave

Two major cruise ships, Spectrum of the Seas and Costa Serena, docked at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal yesterday as the city's cruise tourism revives, said Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law.

Spectrum of the Seas completed a total of eight homeport seasons in Hong Kong with about 5,000 passengers boarding each voyage to Japan, Vietnam or Shanghai. The cruise company has decided to increase the number of sailings in Hong Kong this year.

While Costa Serena was chartered by a Korean company last weekend to bring 1,800 Korean travelers to the city, mainland cruise ship Piano Land under the Astro Ocean will return to Hong Kong between April and December.

There will be nearly 70 sailings throughout the year with an estimated 80,000 visitor arrivals.

"The Bureau will make every effort to implement measures under the cruise tourism development action plan and lead the industry in securing more cruise vessels to Hong Kong," Law said, urging merchants to seize the opportunities.