HKG cruise push

THE inaugural visit by Norwegian Joy to Hong Kong yesterday was welcomed by local officials, with Hong Kong Commissioner for Tourism Cathy Chu hailing the growing contribution of cruise tourism to the city’s economy.

Chu said the new Kai Tak cruise terminal had seen growth of 90% in cruise visits over the last three years, highlighting Hong Kong’s shopping and dining experiences and their appeal to visitors.

“The Hong Kong government is very committed to developing cruise tourism in Hong Kong; we have invested a lot in our infrastructure as well as providing various incentive programs for the travel agencies as well as for the cruise lines,” she said.

This year HKG is putting money into the development of cruise excursion programs so guests find that Hong Kong is a value-for-money destination, Chu added.