Bringing the World to Taiwan Foreign Cruise Passenger Arrivals and Departure at Port of Keelung Set All Time Record in 2024

Recently published Port of Keelung statistics confirm robust growth in the port's international cruise sector in 2024, with 166 cruise ship visits and 787 thousand passengers handled. Although passenger levels are still only 83% of the pre-pandemic peak, the 266 thousand foreign passengers handled this year represents an all-time record, surpassing the previous record of 257 thousand recorded set in 2018.

The main countries of origin of foreign passengers processed through Port of Keelung in 2024, include Japan (13.75%), the United States (4.9%), South Korea (2.9%), and Germany (2.8%). Japanese passenger numbers were up 67.4% from the foreign cruise passenger peak in 2018, with most arriving either aboard the MSC Bellissima on one of its 21 winter-season voyages or during one of the four calls by Princess Cruises' Diamond Princess. The United States has long been the world's largest source market for cruise vacations, with US passengers generally well represented in port calls worldwide. The 9% increase in US cruise visitors to Taiwan in 2024 over 2018 reflects a generally stable trend. The remarkable 205.1% increase in South Korean passengers throughput in 2024 compared to 2018 reflects a bullish bilateral trend. Last year's numbers benefitted greatly from South Korea-based charter cruise visits by the Costa Serena. Taiwan and South Korea's economic parity and geographic proximity suggests room for significant further growth in South Korean cruise passenger numbers in the coming years. TIPC has already paid two visits in 2025 to Rakuten Travel, South Korea's largest travel agency to discuss opening additional cruise routes between the two countries. Germany is Europe's largest source market for cruise vacations. Those vessels operated by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, AIDA Cruises, and Phoenix Reisen were important source of pre-pandemic German cruise calls to Taiwan. In 2024, these three companies along with (also German-based) TUI Cruises all made calls at Port of Keelung, delivering a 420.4% increase in German cruise visitors over 2018 and suggesting significant future potential still.

The Foreign (non-Taiwanese) cruise passenger arrivals are categorized as either "transit" or "turnaround". The number of transit passengers (228,539) processed in 2024 represents a 4.5% increase over 2018 which was also the main reason for the number of foreign passengers record breaking. The number of foreign turnaround cruise passenger( 37,795) were just slightly (0.8%) less than in 2018. As part of efforts to further expand passenger arrivals in this category and increase the time spent by foreign passengers in Taiwan, TIPC has launched additional port charge discount incentives for cruise operators. Turnaround cruise ships with foreign passenger complements of at least 30% are now eligible for an NT$100 discount on service charge for all passengers on that voyage, with this discount valid for use in combination with other incentives.

Looking ahead, Port of Keelung currently has 237 international cruise ship arrivals booked for 2025, with the expected 861 thousand passengers they should bring marking a 9.5% increase over the 2024 total. Also this year, Port of Keelung will continue coordinating and working with the national Tourism Administration and local governments to promote local tourism opportunities and will continue improving its port facilities and offering attractive incentives to attract more cruise travel to Taiwan.

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