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U.S. Virgin Islands attends Seatrade Cruise Global in Fort Lauderdale

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 04 April 2023 04 April 2023

The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism celebrates another successful year of participation at the annual Seatrade Cruise Global trade show. Seatrade is the cruise industry’s leading annual business-to-business event, bringing together buyers and suppliers from 140 countries and over 300 international journalists.

Seatrade stands as one of the most important annual trade shows for the U.S. Virgin Islands as the cruise industry has been a longstanding economic booster for tourists into the territory. In 2022, St. Thomas received more than 1.6 million cruise passengers through its two ports and anticipates 200,000 additional cruise passengers this year. St Croix’s Frederiksted Pier had 100,000 passengers come through in 2022 and is expecting an increase of 80% in 2023. Almost all the major Caribbean cruise lines sailing out of major U.S. ports have resumed docking in St. Thomas, which is leading to an anticipated increase of nearly 650,000 new travelers in 2023.

Along with four other industry leaders, Commissioner Joseph Boschulte participated in the event’s opening keynote panel, entitled “The State of Global Tourism: Forward Momentum, Catching Tailwinds,” which highlighted key trends and developments that have been emerging since the COVID-19 pandemic, including a great tailwind coming about from a decrease in credit card debt and an increase in savings that people now want to spend on travel. The other panelists included Jonathan Daniels, CEO and Port Director of Port Everglades; Terry Thornton, senior vice president, commercial development of Princess Cruises; Russell Benford, vice president of government relations, the Americas, for Royal Caribbean Group; and Stephen Xuereb, chief operating officer, of Global Ports Holding and chief executive of Valletta Cruise Port PLC.

Commissioner Boschulte said, “During the pandemic in June 2020, the Governor and the health team opened our borders and invited guests back, so the USVI experienced strong overnight hotel stays at that time. However, one of the biggest differences was not having the cruise ships which had been the anchor for our tourism economy for decades. Now, we are happy to report that the cruise business is back, and passenger volume is expected to reach pre-Covid 2019 levels by the end of this year.” Boschulte added, “tourism makes up 60% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the three-island Territory so its impact on the entire economy is enormous.”

Governor Bryan, Commissioner Boschulte, the Department of Tourism and the Port Authority garnered applause from Royal Caribbean Group’s Russell Benford who highlighted the strategic investments into the cruise industry to secure their place in the reemerging market share. The panel brought up other important developments that emanated from the pandemic, including the impact of changing itineraries and the impetus for increased regional cooperation in the Caribbean. “The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is doing a phenomenal job of ensuring the destinations in the region are not competing against one another,” Boschulte explained. “Ships don’t just sail to one destination in a region but rather to many places and therefore working together is so important to the Caribbean’s success. Together, we are making faster decisions, having more discussions, and working more closely with one another,” he said.

Over the four-day event, members representing the Department of Tourism and the Virgin Islands Port Authority meet with key representatives from the cruise industry, vendors, and media, building new relationships and fostering old ones to continue to grow the territory’s stance as a leading port within the Caribbean.

Taiwan presents cruise tourism opportunities to industry leaders at Seatrade Cruise Global

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 31 March 2023 31 March 2023

At the Seatrade Cruise Global 2023, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau and Taiwan International Ports Corporation are joining forces to showcase Taiwan's cruise tourism opportunities to industry leaders from around the world. This collaboration aims to drive economic growth and expedite the revival of Taiwan's cruise market by attracting international cruise lines and travelers to Taiwan's ports and destinations.

The Taiwan pavilion at Seatrade Cruise Global 2023 highlights the country's diverse tourism resources and showcases its major ports, capturing the attention of cruise industry professionals worldwide. Taiwan's commitment to enhancing the cruise experience is exemplified through their participation in this prestigious event, emphasizing the nation's exceptional offerings for both port-of-call visits and homeport operations.

As Asia's second-largest cruise market, Taiwan International Ports Corporation is actively investing in infrastructure upgrades and service enhancements for ports in Taiwan, including expanding berthing areas and streamlining customs clearance processes for passengers, ensuring an exceptional travel experience overall. Taiwan Tourism Bureau is also actively implementing measures to encourage foreign cruise ships to visit, including revised incentive regulations with maximum rewards of US$15,000 per voyage.

Furthermore, in collaboration with the Philippines and South Korea, the recently formed Asia Archipelago Cruise Alliance (AACA) aims to attract international cruise lines by facilitating resource sharing and cross-promotion of tourist attractions. This alliance focuses on developing appealing island-hopping itineraries in the region, contributing significantly to the growth of the Asian cruise industry.

The Director of Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Shi-chung Chang, emphasizes Taiwan's unique appeal as a must-visit cruise tour destination in Asia, thanks to its prime location and an abundance of diverse attractions that cater to a wide range of traveler interests. By joining forces with Taiwan International Ports Corporation at Seatrade Cruise Global 2023, Taiwan demonstrates its commitment to providing exceptional cruise experiences and promoting the nation's tourism industry. Visitors can fly into Taiwan and embark on a cruise tour of the outlying islands, immersing themselves in the rich local customs and culture, or continue on to other Asian destinations for an extended multi-stop journey. As the Asian cruise market continues to grow, Taiwan is well-positioned to capture the attention of international tourists, inviting them to discover the unparalleled beauty and allure that Taiwan has to offer.

Hong Kong reveals new offerings for cruise lines and their guests

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 29 March 2023 29 March 2023

Like a fortunate forecast of calm waters, clear skies, and soothing breezes, everything has come together at just the right moment for the return of international cruise liners to Hong Kong and for the destination to regain its position as Asia’s Cruise Hub. That was the message enthusiastically delivered by the Hong Kong Tourism Board at a special lunch reception for media and cruise line representatives held yesterday, March 27, during Seatrade Cruise Global, the cruise industry’s preeminent annual business-to-business event, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Reactivating the market by building a win-win partnership with cruise lines

In just the past two months, the Hong Kong market has resecured the advantages that make it so appealing for international cruise lines. “With the mask mandate lifted, Hong Kong is shining anew as one of the most exciting harbor cities and desirable destinations for cruise travelers from all over the world. In 2023, we secured over 160 ship calls from 16 cruise lines. This signifies a full resumption of Hong Kong’s cruise scene. The speedy recovery of the cruise industry in Hong Kong can be credited to the trust and relationships we have built with cruise lines,” said Hong Kong Tourism Board’s MICE & Cruise General Manager, Kenneth Wong.

The elegant Silver Spirit of Silversea sparked the start of the cruise season in Asia with its debut return to Hong Kong in mid-January. Noted Adam Radwanski, Silversea’s Managing Director – Asia Pacific: “Hong Kong constitutes one of the most important ports in Asia for Silversea Cruises and our discerning guests, who appreciate the enriching experiences, the welcoming people, and the spectacular cityscape that awaits them on each call to the destination. In January 2023, Silversea became the first international cruise line to return to Hong Kong’s waters in almost three years – facilitated by the invaluable collaboration of the local government, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, and the port authorities. This is a strong representation of our long-term commitment to Hong Kong. With four ultra-luxury ships sailing in Asia Pacific waters in 2023, Silversea is investing heavily in the region and has seen tremendous growth within this market. We look forward to building on our close collaboration with Hong Kong for years to come, as we continue to offer our guests unique experiences in this iconic destination.”

The visits and deployments from Silversea Cruises, TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and the year-round homeporting of Resorts World Cruises highlight the city’s potential for accommodating a variety of cruise products, as well as the flight network’s availability for development of fly-cruise turnaround itineraries for short-haul and long-haul markets.

Growing potential in source markets

Flights connecting destinations and hubs around the world have ramped back up, including the resumption of United Airlines’ nonstop service to and from Hong Kong, joining Cathay Pacific as the dominant air carriers from the U.S.

“To accommodate the vast growth in aviation, the Hong Kong International Airport is implementing an expansion plan for the three-runway system which when the project is completed, will be able to handle 30 million more passengers a year by 2030,” said Kenneth Wong.

Since the beginning of the popularization of the global cruise industry, Hong Kong has been a standout setting for cruise lines to develop new products and entice new clientele from the enormous Mainland market of 86 million people who zip in from cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area via High Speed Rail and the iconic Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the longest sea crossing in the world.

New offerings for travelers to experience and enjoy

The Hong Kong Tourism Board launched a large-scale “Hello Hong Kong” global promotional campaign focused on showcasing the city’s reopening with its legendary vibrancy and exciting new developments, events, and activities, all of which were introduced by Kenneth Wong at the Seatrade Cruise Global luncheon.

Along the harbor of Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District is the new Hong Kong Palace Museum, with an exclusive collection of more than 900 priceless treasures from the Palace Museum in Beijing, and M+, Asia’s first truly global museum of contemporary visual culture.

Possibilities abound for international travelers arriving via cruise ship. The Peak Tram to panoramic views from Victoria Peak has been given a makeover, with new sixth-generation tram cars and a renovated terminal with full-immersion video experience.

Brighter future with extensive support from Hong Kong Tourism Board

The Hong Kong Tourism Board is working and communicating closely with cruise operators for continued top-level industry productivity and efficiency. New initiatives introduced by Kenneth Wong at the Seatrade Cruise Global luncheon, include “multiple aspects of support, such as itinerary planning facilitation, port operating costs subsidy, and consumer demand-stimulating campaigns, to ensure cruise line deployment is an unprecedented success.”

According to Kenneth Wong, “all signs point to a strong international cruise comeback and a bright future. We expect a robust cruise agenda as lines and visitors return to what has always been a leading Asia cruise hub and tourism capital.”

Global Ports Holding signs concessions agreement for Alicante Cruise Port

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 11 March 2023 11 March 2023

Global Ports Holding Plc, the world's largest independent cruise port operator, announced that its 80:20 joint venture with Servicios Portuarios Canarios (“Sepcan”) has signed a 15-year cruise port concession for Alicante Cruise Port, Spain. The signing of this agreement follows the award of preferred bidder status, which was announced on 16 December 2022. GPH expects to take over the cruise operations in Alicante during the month of March 2023.

The Port Authority of Alicante is currently enhancing the port area in a multimillion-Euro investment that will integrate the and the city. Alongside this investment and as part of the concession agreement, the JV plans to invest up to EUR 2.0m into refurbishing and modernising the cruise terminal.

With over 100k passengers annually, Alicante Cruise Port is one of the growing cruise destinations on the east coast of Spain. The port has strong airlift connectivity and is well located for inclusion in diverse Mediterranean itineraries.

Royal Caribbean's Beach Club in the Bahamas moves forward for 2025 opening

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 10 March 2023 10 March 2023

Royal Caribbean International is moving ahead with the development of the first Royal Beach Club after receiving approval from the government of The Bahamas. The 17-acre destination experience coming to the western end of Paradise Island in Nassau, The Bahamas, will combine the island’s striking beaches with the cruise line’s signature experiences to create the ultimate beach day – The Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island.

Crafted in close collaboration with the Bahamian government, the new project will feature a public-private partnership in which Bahamians will be invited to own up to 49% equity. Local businesses and entrepreneurs will also have the opportunity to manage the vast majority of the experience. Overall, the new venture will generate hundreds of jobs across its construction and long-term operation.

“The Bahamas has been a phenomenal partner since the very start, when they became our first port of call more than 50 years ago,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “As we continue to bring millions of visitors to experience attractions throughout Nassau each year, The Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island is the next bold adventure in Royal Caribbean’s commitment to both increasing tourism in The Bahamas and delivering memorable vacations to our guests.”

Alongside private cabanas, stunning pools and more, the vibrant Bahamian spirit and culture will come to life throughout the world-class destination experience. Vacationers will be welcomed by local architecture that complements the exceptional views of The Bahamas’ turquoise-blue waters and white sand beaches, along with experiences that feature Bahamian fare, island-style barbecues, live music and local artisans.

The beach club will be made up of 13 acres of land owned by the cruise line and 4 acres of Crown Land. The Crown Land will be contributed as equity in the new venture to ensure a share of the profits return to the government and the Bahamian people in a first-of-its-kind agreement in The Bahamas. This, in addition to a new tourism levy, will go into reinvesting in the local community. The collaboration between the government, the community and Royal Caribbean will continue as the development moves through the stages of planning and completion.

More details about The Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island, set to open in 2025, will be revealed in the coming months.