Cruise ship calls in Hong Kong may top 200 this year, tourism minister says

Cruise ship calls in Hong Kong may exceed 200 this year, the city’s tourism minister has said, as she revealed that authorities will consider measures to create synergy between the terminal and an emerging cultural hub in Kai Tak.Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui on Saturday also said cruise ships made 189 port calls in 2025, representing 88 per cent of peak levels, and Chinese vessels might stop in the city this year, which she described as “refreshing news”.“It’s been three years since the resumption of travel after Covid, and there is a lag in sailing schedules as they run on a three-year cycle, so I believe we could see cruises that haven’t docked in Hong Kong recently returning or new ones coming here,” she said.“We could see more than 200 cruise ships calling in Hong Kong this year.”The Runway 1331 youth hostel. Photo: Edmond SoWith the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal undergoing an operator tendering exercise, Law suggested the port could explore opportunities to collaborate with the adjacent Runway 1331, a COVID-19 isolation facility-turned-youth hostel and cultural hub.“I am aware that Runway 1331 will now operate in synergy with the Kai Tak Sports Park. Could we add the cruise terminal to the mix … whether it’s for food and beverage, youth activities or cultural spaces? … We will announce details when they’re available,” she said.