The first cruise ship of the year from Japan recently docked in Jeju, but relatively few passengers disembarked to see the island. This is only the latest example of the cruise industry slowdown. Joseph Kim reports.


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Jeju International Cruise Terminal

A huge cruise ship braves the thick sea fog.

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2018’s first cruise from Japan

This is the Costa neoRomantica Cruise that sailed from Tokyo, Japan and this is the first entry of a cruise ferry into Jeju from the island country this year.

INTERVIEW
Tani / Cruise passenger
The weather is nice today. I think we can enjoy a nice visit here. We’re going to walk to the nearby residential area.
<인터뷰 : 타니 / 크루즈 관광객>
"오늘 날씨도 따뜻하니 좋고, 좋은 여행이 기대됩니다. 저희는 걸어서 마을 앞까지 가볼 생각입니다."

The ferry brought more than 620 passengers, but only about 130 passengers got off at the Jeju terminal.

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6 vessels have brought 5,700 passengers to Jeju this year

This year, six cruise ferries have brought 5,700 passengers to the island.

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Cruise industry peaked in 2016

It’s a big drop from the more than 500 ferries and 1.2 million passengers in 2016.

For months, there has been anticipation in the local cruise tourism industry that the sector will rebound soon from the effects of the business retaliation by China for THAAD deployment in Korea.

However, the local cruise tourism industry is still sluggish.

INTERVIEW
Gang Jeong-pil / Charter bus driver
When cruise ships from China arrive, anywhere from 50 to 200 charter buses are reserved. The ship that docked today from Japan is small. The transportation businesses and bus drivers can’t make ends meet.
<인터뷰 : 강정필 / 전세버스 기사>
"보통 중국손님이 들어와야 여기에 50대 ~ 200대 정도 (몰리거든요). 오늘 일본 크루즈가 와서 너무 적습니다. 일본 크루즈만 와서는 운수업하는 사람들이 정말 어렵고. 또, 근로자들도 굉장히 어렵습니다."

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Chinese cruise operators keep canceling Jeju trips

Chinese cruise operators are canceling calls to the island on a monthly basis.

Cruise ferries from other countries dock on the local ports for oil and food supply, rather than as a tourist destination.

Furthermore, the ambitiously opened (강정) Gangjeong Cruise Terminal remains without any business.

INTERVIEW
Lee Gi-woo / Dir., Provincial marine industry division
We’re trying to attract cruise ships from Japan and Taiwan because Chinese cruise operators have suspended trips to the island.
<인터뷰 : 이기우 / 제주도 해양산업과장>
"중국발 크루즈가 빨리 풀리면 좋겠지만 앞으로 시장 다변화를 위해서 일본 크루즈나 대만 크루즈 등 중국 이외의 크루즈를 적극 유치해서…."

[Reporter] Joseph Kim
[Camera] Park Byeong-june

Expectations are growing that the local cruise tourism industry will rebound soon, but it has been in a recession for months.

Joseph Kim, KCTV