The Silver Spirit ship arrived on Wednesday (01.18.2023) at the Hong Kong terminal of Tsim Sha Tsui, becoming the first international cruise ship to arrive in the former British colony since early 2020, when the city imposed a veto on this type of vessel for the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ship, which had departed from Singapore and had made stops in Vietnam and Thailand, arrived in Hong Kong with 300 passengers of more than 20 nationalities, Hong Kong broadcaster RTHK reported.
“It is a very important step on the road to recovery,” said the territory’s Culture Secretary, Kevin Yeung, quoted by RTHK, adding that the city “will try to become a starting point for cruise routes.”
Silversea manager Adam Radwanski told local media that Hong Kong “has one of the most beautiful ports in the world” and that navigating Asia without stopping in Hong Kong “is not satisfactory.” The Silver Spirit will embark on her return to Singapore on Thursday.
Representatives from the semi-autonomous city’s Tourism Office reported that 16 cruise ships are expected to make about 80 stops in Hong Kong in 2023.
The territory announced in mid-December the withdrawal of the mandatory three-day observation period for arrivals from abroad, after hotel quarantines for incoming passengers, which once stood at 21 days, were no longer mandatory last September. .
Since the start of the pandemic, Hong Kong has implemented strict border controls under a zero-tolerance policy against the coronavirus similar to the one in place until just a few weeks ago in mainland China.
gs (efe, RTHK)
