○ On April 19, Incheon Port Authority (www.icpa.or.kr, president: Jun-wook Choi) has announced that it will engage in various cruise vitalization activities to prepare for resuming cruise operations at Incheon Port and to revitalize the marine tourism industry.

○ Cruises were restricted from domestic port entry since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but IPA is planning to begin preemptive cruise marketing activities for recovery of the domestic marine tourism industry due to the recent trend of resuming cruise operations overseas.

○ Specifically, IPA is planning to perform maintenance on cruise berth facilities, negotiate with relevant institutions for efficient entry and exit procedures, host welcome events, and operate free shuttle buses ahead of the scheduled port entry of MS Regatta of Oceania Cruises in October.

○ IPA has also recruited and operated the first group of supporters for Q1 to raise public interest in cruises and will recruit and operate the Second Incheon Port Marine Tourism Supporters Group. IPA will also build a contactless cruise promotion center utilizing the metaverse platform and increase customized activities for passengers to improve awareness for Incheon Port marine tourism.

* Metaverse: A compound word combining the words “universe,” which refers to reality, and “meta,” which refers to “virtual and abstract” this term refers to a 3D virtual world.

○ IPA Passenger Terminal Business Team Manager Gwang-hyeon Nam stated, “We will work with related institutions to amplify our marketing effects and make all preparations necessary for efficient operation once cruise operations resume,” adding “We will invest special effort in determining the issues of cruise lines and interests of passengers for customized marketing.”

※Photograph dex-scription (attached)

= View of Incheon Port Cruise Terminal / Provider = Incheon Port Authority