This year, the number of visitors arriving at Incheon Port via cruise ships has surpassed 200,000, marking the highest record since the port's opening.
According to the Incheon Port Authority on November 12, as of the end of last month, Incheon Port recorded 99 cruise arrivals and 197,687 passengers. This surpasses the previous record of 95 arrivals set in 2013, and the number of passengers has exceeded the 183,909 recorded in 2014. A total of 113 arrivals are expected by the end of the year, with passenger numbers projected to reach 210,000.
Additionally, on November 8, the cruise ship Visio from Tianjin Dongfang International Cruise Company docked at Incheon Port, bringing the cumulative number of passengers to 200,303, achieving the 2026 target of 200,000 ahead of schedule.
The Visio is a 100,000-ton cruise ship that carried 1,161 passengers and 574 crew members. It departed from Tianjin, stopped in Jeju, and arrived at Incheon Port at 10 a.m. Passengers toured Incheon and Seoul before departing back to Tianjin at 10 p.m.
In response to the surge in cruise arrivals since late last year, the port authority has strengthened terminal operations and security personnel, and improved facilities to create a smoother experience for travelers. They have also collaborated with customs, immigration, and quarantine (CIQ) agencies to enhance passenger flow and reduce processing times, while working with Incheon City and other relevant organizations to support passenger transportation and tourism guidance.
Next year, the number of Fly and Cruise homeport voyages linked to Incheon International Airport is expected to increase to 18, a 64% rise from this year's 11 voyages. The Fly and Cruise homeport utilizes the proximity of the port and airport, making Incheon Port a starting and ending point for cruise travel. Compared to brief stops at various destinations, the number of embarking and disembarking passengers is more than double, leading to significant economic benefits from accommodation and tourism.
The port authority anticipates a total of 132 arrivals next year, expecting to achieve the highest performance since the port's opening for the second consecutive year.
Park In-seo, president of the Incheon Port Authority, stated, "Achieving the highest cruise performance since the opening of Incheon Port by the end of October is a result of collaboration among shipping companies, CIQ agencies, and local governments. We will not stop at this record but will accelerate improvements in passenger processing and baggage handling to ensure that cruise passengers explore all corners of Incheon next year with the 18 homeport voyages."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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