Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Marks Milestones in 2024 with 98 Calls – Cruise Industry News

The Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (KTCT) celebrated a year of achievements in 2024 as it marked its 11th anniversary of operations.

In 2024, KTCT hosted a total of 98 ship calls, including seven inaugural visits, surpassing the combined total of the other three cruise terminals in the Greater Bay Area.

Jeff Bent, managing director for Worldwide Cruise Terminals (WCT), which operates KTCT, said: “I am glad to report that we maintained over 80 percent market share of cruise ship calls in Hong Kong.”

For the second year in a row, WCT, in collaboration with the Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA), The Hong Kong Travel Agents Owners Association (HKTAOA) and Norwegian Cruise Line, hosted a training workshop for nearly 100 travel agents at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. Led by CLIA’s Peter Kollar, the event featured in-depth cruise training, a tour of the terminal facilities and a visit to the Norwegian Spirit.

“The workshop demonstrates the growing interest in cruising among Hong Kong travel agents,” said Kollar. “By providing comprehensive education and practical experience, we’re equipping these professionals to better serve their clients and capitalise on a thriving cruise sector.”

“We’re delighted to welcome CLIA back in 2024 for this important initiative,” added Bent. “The number of attending travel agents nearly doubled this year and further highlighted Hong Kong’s growing importance as a major international cruise hub. Having a large body of qualified travel agents able to recommend the right cruises for the right guests is critical to the success of the market in the long run, and CLIA’s industry-leading training gave participants a solid introduction plus access to ongoing learning opportunities to help them, and their guests, on their journeys.”

Kai Tak Cruise Terminal hosted several major events in 2024, including a luxury car launch, a jewelry showcase, the Bitcoin Asia event and multiple film and commercial shoots. The terminal also earned 19 awards and certifications, highlighting its commitment to environmental management, accessibility and occupational safety.

Looking ahead to 2025, Bent noted: “There are many things to be thankful for in 2024, for example, we successfully worked with the disciplined forces to streamline security procedures for transit calls. We anticipate an increased number of ship calls, passengers and visiting cruise lines in 2025, including seven inaugural calls, the first of which was Astro Ocean’s Piano Land on January 6th. Going forward, we look forward to cooperating with the new Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP), which is located about 3km away from the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, by providing information about KTSP events taking place to disembarking cruise passengers, so they get a chance to participate in other exciting activities around town.”