Senior Executives of World’s Third-Largest Cruise Operator Norwegian Cruise Line Visits Keelung and Kaohsiung Port CruiseTerminals; TIPC Joins Local Governments to Promote[...]

The run of good news following Taiwan's post-COVID reopening just keeps getting better! At the invitation of TIPC, senior representatives of Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the world's third-largest cruise line, are currently visiting Port of Kaohsiung (June 19th) and Port of Keelung (June 21st) accompanied by representatives of Lion Travel for talks regarding future calls in Taiwan by NCL cruise ships.

The NCL group, including its subsidiaries Norwegian, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas, is one of the world's fastest-growing cruise operators. TIPC paid a visit to NCL Senior Vice President Juan Kuryla in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the United States during March of this year to formally propose Taiwan as a regular destination for NCL cruise vacations. After the meeting, SVP Kuryla committed to planning Taiwan into NCL routes beginning in the second half of the year.

The NCL delegation currently visiting Taiwan includes International VP for Sales, Marketing, and Brand Communication Jason Krimmel; Senior Director for Charters, Meetings & Incentives Neil Brodie; and other senior marketing and sales officials, underscoring the interest and confidence NCL has in the Taiwan market. Today (June 19th), the group visited Port of Kaohsiung's two cruise terminals (Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal and Kaohsiung Peng Lai Cruise Terminal), where they received welcome gifts of locally popular treats, including pearl milk tea and pineapple shortcake. NCL Vice President Krimmel voiced high praise for the newly completed Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal, noting its striking aesthetic beauty and stating he had no doubt future NCL passengers would be extremely impressed and satisfied with Port of Kaohsiung calls. Next, the NCL delegation will visit Port of Keelung's East and West cruise Terminals to see for themselves the significant upgrades made to the port's cruise facilities during the pandemic period and the efforts taken to ensure a stellar welcome for Norwegian Cruise Lines to Taiwan.

Working to make the most of this rare opportunity, TIPC officials have also organized visits and activities to highlight the touristic charms of Keelung and Kaohsiung Cities and neighboring areas. This evening, TIPC hosted the "Highlights of Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Penghu Tourism" meeting for the visitors, with officials from Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Penghu introducing sites and attractions in southern Taiwan. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Tourism Bureau and Maritime Port Bureau. A similar meeting on the 21st will be held, providing a platform for Taipei City, New Taipei City, and Keelung City to introduce the touristic allure of northern Taiwan as well as to encourage NCL to promote fly-cruise packages centered on Taiwan ports-of-call to leverage Taiwan's tourism potential even further.

TIPC President Shao-liang Chen shared, "Tourism value remains the most important consideration for cruise lines when selecting ports-of-call. TIPC continues working closely with national and local government authorities on integrated tourism promotion campaigns to win cruise operators over to the abundant potential that already is here in our international commercial ports, raise international cruise company awareness of the special character of Taiwan ports beyond Keelung and Kaohsiung, and add significant value to Taiwan's overall tourism marketing efforts." The NCL delegation has expressed appreciation to both TIPC and local governments for their warm reception and conveyed its confidence that NCL will begin making preparations to include Taiwan calls on its routes in the future.

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