Malaysia can become a premier cruise tourism destination in Southeast Asia, and the cruise industry has the potential to do more than just bring in foreign visitors as it can create thousands of jobs, elevate local heritage and culture, and promote the country to the world, said its Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
Last year, Thailand recorded 162 cruise ship calls, carrying 379,036 passengers and 163,331 crew members, generating 1.89 billion THB (56.5 million USD) in revenue, a 6.9% increase from 2023. Leading source markets include Singapore, the UK, Malaysia, the US, and Germany.
The country, located on a bustling maritime trade route, connecting to many major cruise tourism markets such as China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore, is showing many positive signs for a boom in this high-end tourism segment.
With a 3,260 km coastline, over 4,000 islands and bays, and deep-water ports, Vietnam is rapidly positioning itself as a premier stop for international cruise lines.
The Italian-flagged Costa Serena, carrying nearly 3,000 foreign passengers and over 1,000 crew members, arrived at the Ha Long International Cruise Port on September 30.
Vietnam boasts a 3,260km long coastline with over 4,000 islands and reefs, numerous beautiful bays and beaches, and deep-water ports that allow large ships to anchor close to shore, offering significant advantages for developing cruise tourism.
Cruise tourism plays a crucial role in attracting foreign visitors to the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, contributing to its overall socio-economic development.
Leveraging existing advantages of an attractive destination for cruise tourism, the coastal city of Nha Trang in the central province of Khanh Hoa is continuing to refine related mechanisms and offer a variety of services meeting demand of those who come by sea.
Home to more than 100 waterway routes and favourable conditions to develop modern marinas, Ho Chi Minh City boasts huge potential to branch out not only waterway transport but also cruise tourism – a new industry looking for calm waters and smooth sailing ahead.
Sixty international cruise ships with a total of some 80,000 passengers aboard have registered to dock at Ha Long International Port in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh this year, according to the provincial Department of Tourism.
The northern port city of Hai Phong has introduced several key tourism tasks to realise the goal of 9.1 million tourists, including more than one million foreign arrivals, in 2024.
The number of international cruise ships bringing tourists to Chan May Port in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue has begun to pick up again after a long period of decline following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The port complex of Cai Mep - Thi Vai in Ba Ria - Vung Tau continually welcomed international cruise ships with thousands of tourists over the past months, a sign of cruise tourism recovery in this southern province and Vietnam at large.
With a long coastline of 3,260km, more than 4,000 islands and a wealth of renowned landscapes, Vietnam has become an attractive destination for cruise tourism.
As the cruise season usually starts in October and ends in April, travel agencies in the northeastern coastal province of Quang Ninh have made plans and established linkages to welcome cruise ships.
Vietnam has recorded a significant increase in the number of international tourist arrivals by sea since the beginning of this year. This indicates a strong rebound in the maritime tourism market with considerable potential for further development in the coming time.
Vietnam has recorded a significant increase in the number of international tourist arrivals by sea since the beginning of this year, indicating a strong rebound in the maritime tourism market with considerable potential for further development in the coming time.
Vietnam witnessed an significant increase in the number of international tourist arrivals by sea in the first quarter of 2023, showing that cruise tourism has great potential for further development in the Southeast Asian nation.
