Port Keelung received a total of 1.06 million cruise passengers in 2018, with strong increase in the number of travelers from the Philippines, TIPC (Taiwan International Ports Corp) statistics revealed.
The number of cruise passengers to Keelung is due to grow further in 2019. According to TIPC statistics, the number of cruisers arriving at the port increased by 13.47% to reach 1.06 million in 2018, which was a new record.
The figure topped the number of travelers accessing the ports of Chiayi, Hualien, and Taichung, the company said. The increase is attributed to the growth in the number of guests on international ships, from around 830,000 in 2017 to a total of 940,000 in 2018.
The biggest increase was in the number of cruise passengers from the Philippines, which grew by 23% to around 60,000 in 2018.
Princess Cruises and Star Cruises (GHK) expanded their operations in the port of Keelung. Princess Cruises homeported Majestic Princess to serve guests embarking from the port, with the occupancy rate exceeding 90%.
Meanwhile, Star Cruises sends its biggest liner, SuperStar Virgo, to operate roundtrips to South Korea and Japan.