Hong Kong receives its first cruise ship after three years of ban due to COVID-19

The Silver Spirit ship arrived this Wednesday 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 due to the coronavirus pandemic. covid-19.

The ship, which departed from Singapore and had made stops in Vietnam and Thailand, arrived in Hong Kong with 300 passengers of more than 20 nationalities on board, Hong Kong broadcaster RTHK reported on Thursday.

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”It is a very important step on the road to recovery.”, pointed out the Secretary of Culture of the territory, Kevin Yeungquoted by RTHK, who added that the city “will try to become a starting point for cruise routes”.

The cruise ship ‘Silver Spirit’ sails towards Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, China, on January 18, 2023. (Photo by EFE/EPA/JEROME FAVRE) (JEROME FAVRE/)

The Silversea Manager Adam Radwanski told local media that Hong Kong “has one of the most beautiful ports in the world” and that sailing through Asia without stopping in Hong Kong “not satisfactory”.

The Silver Spirit will begin his return to Singapore this Thursday.

The cruise ship ‘Silver Spirit’ sails towards Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, China, on January 18, 2023. (Photo by EFE/EPA/JEROME FAVRE) (JEROME FAVRE/)

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.

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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.

Source: Elcomercio