On Monday, September 29th, the port of Incheon (Seoul) received over 2,700 travellers from a Chinese cruise vessel, coinciding with South Korea’s launch of a temporary visa-waiver programme aimed at reviving tourism.
The ship, MS Dream, operated by Tianjin Orient International Cruise Line, had departed Tianjin on Saturday and arrived at Incheon early on Monday with 2,189 passengers and 563 crew. The vessel is due to depart the following day, completing a 5-day round trip.
Seoul recently introduced a 9-month pilot programme allowing groups of three or more Chinese nationals to enter South Korea without visas for periods up to fifteen days, as part of broader efforts to stimulate foreign visitation. Under that scheme, MS Dream became the first Chinese cruise to call at Incheon this year.
As passengers disembarked, local residents gathered to greet them; photos were taken and waves exchanged. Tour operators marshalled a fleet of buses to transport the visitors into Seoul. The Incheon Port Authority deployed food trucks serving Korean cuisine, and municipal officials arranged a welcome in the city plaza. Passengers were scheduled to visit key attractions in the capital before reboarding.
Only four of the thirty international cruise calls this year have listed a Chinese departure port, making the MS Dream call a milestone in Sino-Korean maritime tourism. The Incheon Port Authority’s president, Lee Kyung-gyu, indicated that the ship’s arrival would serve as a catalyst for expanding cruise routes and economic recovery, and affirmed the authority’s intent to assist in restoring local activity through strengthened maritime links.