Taichung Port Welcomes International Cruise Ship After 7 Years, Hopes for More Tourists to Central Taiwan

The 'Island Sky' is a boutique small cruise ship under Caledonian Cruise Lines, with a gross tonnage of approximately 4200 tons and a length of 90.6 meters, focusing on exquisite and in-depth travel experiences. This voyage departed from Hong Kong, connecting ports such as Kaohsiung, Magong, Taichung, Keelung, and Hualien, forming an island-hopping route around Taiwan. This morning, it docked at Taichung Port, and the Taichung Port Branch Office arranged tugboats to spray water in welcome.

Legislative Yuan Vice President Jiang Chi-chen attended and accepted a joint media interview, stating that due to factors such as the pandemic and weather, Taichung Port has welcomed an international cruise ship again after a seven-year hiatus, symbolizing an important moment of returning to the international cruise map. Although the cruise ship only stays for one day, there are many tourist routes radiating from Taichung, including Nantou and Changhua. Taichung Port used to have a strong commercial port atmosphere, but now it is a comprehensive port, hoping for more international tourists to visit in the future.

DPP Legislator Ho Hsin-chun arrived at Taichung Port Pier 19 this morning to welcome passengers. She said that after many years, the international cruise ship's visit connects Taichung Port to the grand blueprint of cruise tourism. She hopes that the Taichung Port Branch Office will continue to market cruise business, continuously develop port area tourism, waterfront recreation, and commercial activities, promote local development, and achieve prosperity for both the city and the port, injecting new vitality into Taichung's economy and tourism development.

Cao Zhong-you, Director of the Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area Administration under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications Tourism Bureau, attended the maiden voyage ceremony and stated that Taichung Port's return to international cruise routes injects new momentum into the central Taiwan tourism industry, bringing international tourists to Lukang Old Street, Sun Moon Lake, Chung Tai Chan Monastery, Taichung City, and Baguashan Scenic Area, providing foreign tourists with diverse and rich travel experiences in Central Taiwan. Some foreign tourists expressed that through the cruise itinerary, they actually visited Central Taiwan and deeply experienced the city's lively atmosphere, historical streets, natural landscapes, and religious culture. Another tourist shared that they immediately felt the warmth of the Taiwanese people upon disembarking. (Edited by Chen Ching-fang)1150407