20 cruise ships bring 100,000 visitors this month
Tourism chief stops by Kai Tak as Serenade of the Seas docks for first time
Hong Kong will have welcomed 100,000 visitors on 20 cruise ships by the end of the month, with firsttime arrival Serenade of the Seas docking yesterday, as Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung gave an upbeat review of enhanced transport arrangements for passengers.
Visiting the cruise terminal in Kai Tak in the morning, Yeung said the industry had been kept busy, with four ships docking in the city last night and today.
“[Tourists] told me that they were looking forward to feeling the uniqueness of the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures in Hong Kong. I also took the chance to introduce them to activities in our ‘Art March’,” he said, referring to a string of high-profile events this month including Art Basel, the International Cultural Summit and ComplexCon.
Two of the four cruise ships, German vessel Mein Schiff 5 and Royal Caribbean International’s Serenade of the Seas, will stay at Kai Tak. The other two are set to dock at Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui.
They are among the 20 cruises either originating or stopping in the city this month, which are expected to have brought in 100,000 visitors, according to Yeung’s bureau.
Yeung said port operators, cruise lines, transport service operators and travel agencies had worked together to “tailor-make” options for passengers to get from the terminal to scenic spots and other sites in the city.
“The tourists were generally satisfied with the transport arrangement in the terminal,” he said, adding the government would continue to supervise the performance of operators.
German tourists Gregory and Kerstin Fritz were among those travelling from the terminal into the heart of Hong Kong yesterday, with the couple visiting the city for the first time in 20 years after arriving on the Mein Schiff 5 on Tuesday.
“It’s amazing how developed the city is,” Gregory said. “When we were last here, the Bank of China building was the highest on Hong Kong Island and now you can’t even find it among all the other buildings.”
Last year, city authorities and port operator Worldwide Cruise Terminals, which manages Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, faced criticism over chaotic transport arrangements when Royal Caribbean International ship Spectrum of the Seas returned to
Hong Kong for the first time in more than a year.
Tourists who arrived in the city in August complained of long waits for taxis and other modes of transport, prompting immediate improvements such as temporary extra bus routes and incentives for taxi drivers that cost the government about HK$1 million.
Under the latest arrangements, six routes will be provided for visitors to travel from the terminal to different MTR stations such as Kai Tak and Kowloon Tong, the West Kowloon rail terminus, or Tsim Sha Tsui and other tourist spots.
Free shuttle buses are also available at the terminal to take passengers to the APM shopping centre in Kwun Tong, while paid routes can take visitors to areas such as Mong Kok and Causeway Bay at HK$80 and HK100 per trip, respectively.
The Post observed a steady stream of passengers and cruise crew members coming and going from the terminal at around midday yesterday.
A steadily replenished taxi stand also ensured queues were no longer than five or six groups of people, while a nearby screen showed public bus waiting times ranging from five to 35 minutes.
Ukrainian acrobat Kateryna Shevchenko, a performer on the
Mein Schiff 5 who joined the queue for the 22M bus to To Kwa Wan, said she planned to show her teammates around Hong Kong, having visited the city 10 years ago.
“It’s not a problem to wait for the bus because we have the whole day,” the 28-year-old said, adding the group had only waited about five minutes the day before.
“If we were here for less time it might be more of a problem. At least there is a bus and we don’t have to use a taxi.”
Shevchenko said she was also impressed by the city’s many changes, including the refurbished Avenue of Stars and the cruise terminal, adding the latter offered amenities such as free Wi-fi. “Some of the other ports in Asia are not that great,” she said.
But not everyone yesterday was happy with the terminal’s transport arrangement.
American retirees Kay and Tom Murell, who arrived on the Serenade of the Seas in the morning, were left confused as they waited for a shuttle bus they hoped would take them to a ferry terminal to cruise around the harbour.
“We don’t know where we’re going,” 80-year-old Kay said. “We were not given much information inside the terminal.”
Local industry leaders said the influx of cruise passengers would help raise Hong Kong’s profile and have a positive knock-on effect on other sectors.
“I am happy to see more cruise ships arrive in Hong Kong,” Hong Kong Tourism Association executive director Timothy Chui Tingpong said.
Chui said more cruise docking in the city would “consolidate Hong Kong’s primary position as a cruise business [hub] in the Greater Bay Area”, helping to bring in more wealthy tourists.
“It will inevitably benefit local retail and [food and beverage sectors],” he said.
Simon Wong Ka-wo, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, agreed the arrival of cruise passengers would benefit the local economy.
The catering industry stood to benefit from those who stayed for a few days, helping to promote the city further, he said.
“As Hong Kong is launching a lot of programmes lately, it’s a great opportunity to get our message across,” he said.