The extension reflects 'the many and diverse operational, green and CSR awards we have achieved over the years, as well as delivering payback in 2021 on the government’s US$750m investment in the facility, which opened in 2013,' according to Jeff Bent, managing director of Worldwide Cruise Terminals.
'We believe the future holds great potential as new facilities such as the bridge to Macao, high-speed rail, simplified boundary crossings and attractions in the new West Kowloon Cultural District can be put to full use,' Bent said.
No ships currently scheduled for May 21 resumption
Cruises to nowhere, on hold during Hong Kong's Omicron crackdown, will be allowed to resume from May 21, but no lines have announced plans to return then.
Recently Royal Caribbean International's Spectrum of the Seas redeployed early to Singapore and Genting Dream's future is unknown following the collapse of Dream Cruises, which leased the ship from a consortium of Chinese banks.
'We now look to the HKSAR government to resume attractive, simple and transparent policies, to attract cruise lines and overseas visitors to return,' Bent said.
Market growth potential
He added: 'In years before the pandemic, Hong Kong typically ranked as the world’s 12th or 13th largest tourism source market by spending, and after six months of high seas sailings last year, in which 50% of the cruisers were new to cruise and experienced record high satisfaction levels, we have every confidence that the local source market will grow even stronger in the future.'
Seatrade Cruise Global Asia session
Bent is scheduled to take part in the 'Asia Regional Development' session at Seatrade Cruise Global, along with Annie Chang, director cruise development, Singapore Tourism Board; and Sean Treacy, SVP international market planning, Royal Caribbean Group. The moderator is Joel Katz, managing director, Australasia & Asia, Cruise Lines International Association.
The session is set for the morning of April 27 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Conference program details are here.
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