Converted Kai Tak Cruise Terminal makes debut

HONG Kong's Kai Tak Cruise Terminal welcomed its first cruise ship, Royal Caribbean International's Mariner of the Seas, yesterday evening as the facility officially opened for the first time.

The terminal boasts two berths capable of accommodating cruise ships of up to 220,000 gross tonnes, with the first already completed and the second to be ready in 2014.

Converted from the former Kai Tak Airport, the new facility also consists of a terminal building for customs and immigration, flexible waiting halls that can be used for exhibitions and meetings, and commercial space, as well as a 23,000m2 public roof garden to be named Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Park.

The terminal building and park will open to the public in 3Q2013.

According to Hong Kong Tourism Board estimates, the launch of the new terminal will bring about some HK$1.5 billion (US$193.2 million) to HK$2.6 billion yearly in economic benefits and generate between 5,300 to 8,900 jobs by 2023.

Speaking at a media site inspection last week, Hong Kong secretary for commerce and economic development, Gregory So, said that Kai Tak Cruise Terminal was key to developing Hong Kong as a regional cruise hub in Asia and strengthening the SAR’s position in tourism.

“The (cruise terminal) is an important tourism infrastructure project, and is the first completed project within the Kai Tak Development. Together with the two existing berths at Ocean Terminal, the completion of Kai Tak Cruise Terminal will greatly enhance the berthing capacity for cruise ships in Hong Kong, thereby enhancing our competitiveness and attractiveness,” he said.

Sourced: ttgasia