Busan is good

Park Heong-joon Welcomes Nation’s First 24-Hour Operation of Cruise Terminal … Full-Scale Expansion of Stay-Oriented Cruise Tourism

내용

Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Park Heong-joon, announced that the nation’s first 24-hour cruise terminal operation will be implemented in conjunction with the arrival of this year’s first overnight cruise, the Regatta.

The Regatta is a 30,000-ton vessel with a passenger capacity of 650, operating a 15-day itinerary across Korea, Japan, and China. Departing from Incheon at 7:00 p.m. on February 21, the ship is scheduled to arrive at Busan Port at 7:00 a.m. on February 23 and depart for Kanazawa, Japan at 10:00 a.m. on February 24.

After arrival at Busan Port, passenger disembarkation will take place from 7:00 a.m., immediately following docking on February 23, until 10:00 p.m. that evening. Boarding will then remain freely available until 10:00 a.m. on the day of departure, February 24.

An overnight cruise refers to a cruise itinerary that docks at a port for more than one day.

The 24-hour operation of the cruise terminal is regarded as the result of close cooperation between Busan Metropolitan City and the Busan Port Authority since last year, along with ongoing consultations with relevant agencies, including CIQ institutions.

Previously, even when overnight cruises called at Busan, terminal operating hours were limited, requiring passengers to complete boarding around 10:00 p.m. The cruise industry had consistently called for extended terminal hours to secure sufficient sightseeing time for tourists.

To address this issue, the City made official proposals, including formally suggesting extended terminal operations at the 8th Central-Local Policy Consultation Meeting in 2025, in an effort to reflect on-site demands in policy decisions.

CIQ refers to Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine.

With the effective extension of cruise tourists’ stay in Busan, the City expects greater economic ripple effects, including revitalization of local commercial districts and increased tourism spending. In particular, it plans to showcase Busan’s distinctive nighttime tourism content to encourage future repeat visits.

During the day, passengers on the cruise are scheduled to visit major attractions in Busan such as Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Beomeosa Temple, Gukje Market, and Jagalchi Market, as well as the nearby city of Gyeongju.

To provide special memories in Busan, the City will also host a social media follow event between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., when tourists return to the terminal after daytime sightseeing. In the evening, a “Night Tour” program will be operated at Hwangnyeongsan Observatory, allowing visitors to enjoy nighttime tourism content and experience the charm of Busan after dark.

Meanwhile, Busan’s cruise market is expected to become further diversified this year, not only through additional overnight cruise calls but also through an increase in cruises departing from China and expanded operations as a semi-homeport.

This year, a total of 442 cruise calls are expected, including nine overnight cruises, 169 cruises departing from China, and 20 semi-homeport operations, bringing approximately 800,000 visitors to Busan.

In response, the City plans to establish a strategy to invigorate port-of-call tourism, focusing on strategic target marketing, enhanced tourism convenience, content advancement, and repeat-visit planning as core tasks to promote Busan’s differentiated port-of-call tourism.

The City will develop customized marketing strategies tailored to each cruise line to expand attraction efforts and build cruise-specialized tourism services by enhancing visitor-centered convenience, including improved transportation for tourists and a strengthened welcoming image at the terminal.

In addition, the City will expand lifestyle-oriented port-of-call tourism content, such as gourmet experiences, local festivals, temple stays, and traditional market experiences, enabling visitors to experience Busan’s unique charm. For departing visitors, farewell performances, photo zones, and pop-up souvenir zones reflecting the city’s image will be arranged, with the goal of ensuring that tourists continue to remember Busan and return in the future.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “I welcome the nation’s first 24-hour operation of a cruise terminal, which marks a symbolic achievement as Busan takes another step forward as a global cruise hub city. By proactively responding to the expansion of overnight cruises, we will substantially extend tourists’ stay and create a turning point that injects new vitality into local commercial districts and the overall tourism industry.”

He added, “From Busan’s natural scenery and gourmet offerings to traditional markets and nighttime tourism content, we will provide a differentiated port-of-call tourism experience that spans day and night, ensuring that Busan becomes not a one-time destination but a city visitors wish to return to, leading to stay-oriented tourism.”