Cruise & Ferry Review - Autumn/Winter 2021

1 7 4 H ong Kong celebrated a historic milestone on 30 July when Dream Cruises’ Genting Dream became the first cruise ship to depart from Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in 18 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Although Genting Dream’s weekly ‘Super Seacation’ roundtrips are only open to local residents and do not include port calls, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is confident they will herald Hong Kong’s return as the cruise hub of Asia. “Royal Caribbean International’s Spectrum of the Seas will begin homeporting in Hong Kong in October and international cruise lines have scheduled calls for 2022 and 2023,” says Kenneth Wong, general manager of cruise, and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, and regional director for Europe at HKTB. “This indicates that our city is still one of the world’s most preferred destinations, as well as a strong business partner.” To restore passengers’ confidence in cruising from the city, Hong Kong has implemented a strict set of industry- specific health and safety measures. They include limits on onboard capacity, mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations for all eligible guests and crew members, compulsory PCR tests and the use of a digital contact tracing app. HKTB is now focused on promoting the health protocols and generating demand from the local market. Once cross-border travel resumes, it will extend promotional efforts to regional and international markets. This will involve finding new ways to showcase Hong Kong’s diverse experiences. “We want to introduce the lesser- known side of Hong Kong to locals and overseas travellers, reminding them to explore everything from our scenic country parks, hiking and cycling trails, to our characterful old shops and family- run eateries,” says Wong. “There will be ample new products in the city to further enrich the guest experience. Cruise guests will be surprised at what Hong Kong has to offer when they return.” CFR AS I A: INTERV IEW Rebuilding Asia’s cruise hub Rebecca Gibson asks Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Kenneth Wong how strict safety protocols and new experiences are encouraging cruise lines to return to Hong Kong Dream Cruises’ Genting Dream was the first cruise ship to sail from Kai Tak Cruise Terminal after the pause in operations prompted by the pandemic “ Cruise guests will be surprised at what Hong Kong has to offer when they return”