TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's cruise industry is poised for a record 640 cruise ship visits and 1.04 million passengers next year, the Taiwan International Ports Corporation said Friday (Oct. 18).
If realized, this would surpass the previous high of 1,022,400 passengers set in 2019, per CNA.
More than 400 cruise ships will be home-ported while 226 will make port calls. These ships are expected to bring in over 750,000 and 290,000 passengers, respectively.
However, Kaohsiung port has faced challenges. Despite opening a new cruise terminal last year, the city has seen a decline in passenger numbers, per UDN.
It is estimated to see 90,000 fewer cruise visitors this year compared to 2023. This is in contrast to Keelung, which has experienced a rise in cruise tourism.
The Port of Kaohsiung saw 133 cruise ship arrivals and 180,574 passengers in 2023, compared to Keelung Port's 142 arrivals and 280,000 passengers. This year Kaohsiung is estimated to receive 65 cruise ship calls and 95,000 passengers, while Keelung is on track to reach 385 cruise ship calls and 716,000 passengers.
Keelung Port serves Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, and Taoyuan, This gives it a competitive advantage over Kaohsiung in developing cruise tourism, Marine Bureau Director Huang Teng-fu (黃登福) said.
Keelung's location near popular destinations like Japan and South Korea offers a one-day travel advantage over Kaohsiung for international tourists.
Meanwhile, the Port of Hualien has been impacted by the April 3 earthquake. While 26 cruise ships were originally scheduled to visit in 2024, 18 of them were canceled following the quake.
The county remains optimistic, with 46 cruise ships and approximately 59,000 passengers expected in next year.
