Khanh Hoa cruise tourism finds new opportunities

(Fatherland) - Khanh Hoa is facing difficulties in receiving international cruise ships because Nha Trang Port is undergoing repairs, but authorities are looking for optimal solutions to continue receiving this flow of visitors.

On October 23, the Coral Princess cruise ship arrived in Khanh Hoa , docking at Cam Ranh International Port with 2,300 tourists of many nationalities. The group divided into many groups to visit Nha Trang and other tourist attractions in the city, or to the Wyndham Grand KN Paradise Cam Ranh resort (Bai Dai - Cam Ranh).

This is the cruise ship that Hai Dang Nha Trang Maritime Agency Company Limited is scheduled to welcome at the end of 2024. Mr. Do Thanh Long - director of this company said that he has coordinated with related units to discuss with Princess Cruises, and this shipping company agreed to let the Coral Princess ship arrive at Cam Ranh International Port, the task of bringing tourists to Nha Trang is undertaken by the travel agency.

Coral Princess cruise ship docked at Cam Ranh International Port on the morning of October 23. Photo: Anh Phat

Previously, the unit’s 7 scheduled cruises to Nha Trang with a total of 16,000 passengers were canceled. From now until the end of the year, the unit plans to welcome 2 more cruises, and in 2025, the list of international cruise ships to be welcomed by this unit is about 37. “Hai Dang Agency hopes that local authorities and relevant parties can find a possible solution for the 2025 international cruise season,” Mr. Long expressed.

Since Nha Trang Port was forced to temporarily close for repairs at the end of September 2024, Khanh Hoa province's cruise tourism sector has been severely affected, with many cruise ships with tens of thousands of passengers canceling their trips to Nha Trang. The risk of Khanh Hoa "absent" international cruise ships in the next 2-4 years is also a common concern of shipping agents and travel businesses. Because shipping lines always plan for 2-4 years, it is necessary to determine stable berthing points, port fees, etc., to avoid last-minute changes, causing difficulties for both shipping lines and tourists.

International passenger ship anchored in Nha Trang Bay in 2023. Photo: Phuc Hau

In 2023, Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa welcomed 23 international cruise ships with over 45,000 visitors. In 2024, the locality plans to welcome 44 cruise ships, and has welcomed 28 cruise ships with nearly 58,000 visitors.

Although Cam Ranh International Port has modern facilities, including 2 wharves that can receive passenger ships up to 226,000 GT, located in a sheltered bay, ensuring year-round maritime operations, without the need to use tender ships. However, the additional costs are the main barrier for travel businesses, as this is the unit that registers to organize tours for passengers on board at the destination.

According to the original plan, the units offered tours to cruise passengers to visit Nha Trang, the price of the route from Nha Trang port to places within a radius of 15km, about 4-6 hours. Now the schedule has to be changed to Cam Ranh International Port, 50km from Nha Trang, leading to an increase in all costs. The shipping lines, travel businesses and partners are forced to share the cost to continue serving cruise tourists.

According to Mr. Pham Minh Nhut - Permanent Vice President of Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Tourism Association, the parties need to "find a common voice" to resolve difficulties in welcoming international cruise ships. If cruise ship tourists cannot be welcomed, it will be a pity for Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa tourism, losing a large source of visitors at the end of this year.

"If travel agencies and shipping lines bear some of the additional costs arising from changing the pick-up point, they can still organize tours to take tourists from Cam Ranh International Port to visit Nha Trang City," Mr. Nhut said.

Cruise ship tourists disembark from Cam Ranh International Port on the morning of October 23. Photo: Anh Phat

Ms. Nguyen Thi Le Thanh - Director of Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Tourism informed that in order to restore international cruise ship operations, the Department recently organized a survey to develop a tour program to serve international cruise ship tourists to Cam Ranh International Port, with the participation of the Port operator, Cam Ranh City People's Committee, Cam Lam District People's Committee and businesses welcoming international cruise ship passengers. At the same time, a working session was organized with sectors, travel businesses, and shipping agents to discuss and agree to report to the Provincial People's Committee on solutions to remove difficulties for international cruise ship operations to Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa in the coming time.

Ms. Thanh believes that Cam Ranh International Port's participation in welcoming international cruise ships will contribute to diversifying the destinations for welcoming cruise ships to the locality. In the period of 2016-2017, Cam Ranh International Port welcomed many large cruise ships such as Legend of The Seas, SuperStar Vigor, Mariner of The Seas, Genting Dream, World Dream, etc. Therefore, Khanh Hoa tourism industry hopes that cruise lines will continue to bring cruise ships to Cam Ranh International Port for sightseeing as planned.

On the side of Tan Cang - Petro Cam Ranh Company Limited, this unit has supported part of the cost of towing the ship, providing free buses to transport passengers from the wharf to the tourist area on Cam Ranh peninsula. And is coordinating with Nha Trang Maritime Port Authority and maritime agencies to welcome tourist ships in the coming time.

Nha Trang Port is in the process of upgrading. Photo: Duc Thao

Mr. Dinh Van Thieu - Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, said that in the long term, the province will focus on upgrading infrastructure, completing procedures to have more ports and wharves to welcome cruise ships as well as building new tourism products to create more options for cruise lines in the coming time.

Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee has assigned the Department of Transport to coordinate with a number of relevant units to complete necessary procedures to soon put Ana Marina Nha Trang marina into operation to welcome cruise ship tourists; requested Nha Trang Port Joint Stock Company to have an investment plan to upgrade the port to soon put it back into operation to welcome guests; assigned the Department of Tourism to coordinate with Cam Lam District People's Committee and Cam Ranh City People's Committee to research and develop tourism products to serve cruise ship tourists to Cam Ranh International Port./.

In the coming time, the Vietnam Maritime Administration and the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province and related units will discuss the current situation, plans and solutions for exploiting and receiving international passenger ships, ensuring maritime safety and security at seaports in Khanh Hoa province.

Source: https://toquoc.vn/du-lich-tau-bien-khanh-hoa-tim-lai-co-hoi-20241025142915323.htm