For Lowering Reliance on China
The South Korean government is to establish a cruise alliance with Southeast Asian countries to diversify the domestic cruise market.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) announced on October 17 that it will sign an agreement to join the Asia Cruise Cooperation (ACC) as a representative of South Korea’s ports of call at Busan Port International Passenger Terminal in Busan on the 20th.
The ACC was launched by major Asian countries, such as Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines, in July 2014 to boost cruise tourism in Southeast Asia. It also jointly promotes ports of call and develop and operate new paths.
The ministry said it has decided to join the ACC to attract more tourists from Southeast Asian countries and diversify the domestic cruise market that has a high level of dependence on China.
The Southeast Asian cruise market is rapidly growing. The number of foreign visitors arriving on cruise ships from Southeast Asia, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, reached 1 million, a fourth of the total of 4 million, after China with 1.9 million last year.
An official from the MOF said, “As a member of the ACC, we will continuously discuss ways to expand operation of the Korea-Japan-Taiwan cruise route and open a new Korea-Hong Kong cruise route with other member countries. We will also make an every effort to diversify the cruise market.”