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Carnival breaks ground for Sasebo, Japan, cruise terminal

Carnival Corporation -SaseboGroundbreaking
Attending the groundbreaking for Carnival Corp. were Remco Buis, SVP port operations and development, and Paul Chong, VP business development for Carnival Asia, as well as representatives from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the city of Sasebo
Carnival Corp. & plc began construction of a new cruise terminal in Sasebo, Japan, with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by government, business and community representatives.

Summer 2020 opening targeted

As part of a strategic partnership agreement signed in March 2018 with the city of Sasebo and the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Carnival Corp. will construct and operate the new terminal, expected to open in summer 2020.

The project partners are working together on an efficient, contemporary design with Miami-based Berenblum Busch Architects to accommodate the corporation's existing and newest ships.

20-year agreement

Under the 20-year agreement, Carnival Corp. and its cruise line brands will have preferential berthing.

‘This new terminal will complement our strong presence in the Asia-Pacific region and furthers our commitment to help facilitate the rising demand for cruise vacations in the region, enabling even more people from around the world to discover why Japan is such an extraordinary destination, one that many of our guests have long enjoyed,’ said Michael Thamm, group CEO, Costa Group and Carnival Asia.

‘And as our company's first cruise terminal investment in Japan,’ he continued, ‘we are excited to mark the start of our long-term relationship. We are actively working on future investment opportunities to help further support growth and expand the Japanese cruise industry for years to come.’

Potential additional port development opportunities

Japan's ports have witnessed exceptional growth over the past few years, and cruising continues to increase in popularity in Asia. The company will continue to work with Japan's government and MLIT to identify potential additional port development opportunities and future investments in the country.

2m Carnival Corp. passenger movements

Seven Carnival Corp. brands currently visit Japan. They include AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises and Seabourn. Overall, Carnival Corp. expects an estimated 2m passenger movements in the market in 2019, with nearly 800 calls by 15 ships at more than 50 Japanese ports.