Yeosu Port Enters the Era of 24 Cruise Calls... Gwangju-Jeonnam Targets Global Cruise Lines

Participation in Jeju International Cruise Forum

Customized Port Sales Initiatives Launched

Linking with Yeosu World Islands Expo and More

Stepping Up from 'Port of Call' to 'Home Port'

The Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Metropolitan City has launched efforts to attract foreign cruise lines in alignment with the recovery of the global cruise market, aiming to develop Yeosu Port into the leading international cruise hub of Korea's southern coast.

With international cruise calls at Yeosu Port expected to reach an all-time high of 24 this year, the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Metropolitan City plans to further increase the frequency of port calls by expanding cooperation with overseas cruise operators. The long-term strategy is to lay the foundation for Yeosu Port to become a home port.

The Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Metropolitan City announced it participated in the 13th Jeju International Cruise Forum and Korea Port Sales events—held at ICC JEJU from July 23 to 25—to intensively promote Yeosu Port’s calling competitiveness and tourism content to global cruise companies.

The Jeju International Cruise Forum is the largest international cruise event in Korea, bringing together major Asian cruise lines, ports, and tourism organizations.

In collaboration with Yeosu City and the regional tourism foundation, the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Metropolitan City operated a Yeosu Port promotional booth, introducing port infrastructure, support systems for cruise arrivals, and programs for visiting cruise ships.

View of Yeosu Port, an international cruise ship terminal. Provided by Gwangju Metropolitan City, Jeollanam-do

In particular, distinctive tourism content—such as the Yeosu World Islands Expo, marine leisure along the southern coast, thousand-year-old temples, and regional gastronomy—were highlighted to showcase Yeosu Port’s unique appeal compared to other destinations.

The emphasis was placed on a variety of tourism resources that can encourage cruise visitors to engage in extended stays, beyond simply stopping at the port.

During the Korea Port Sales event, one-on-one business consultations were held with cruise lines and tourism operators from Taiwan, China, and Japan, including Star Dream Cruises and the Taiwan International Cruise Association.

Discussions also focused on attracting new cruise routes, expanding existing itineraries, and strengthening cooperation to increase cruise arrivals in 2027.

Yeosu Port’s international cruise performance is experiencing rapid growth.

While international cruise calls stood at just seven last year, this year that number is expected to expand to 24, accommodating an estimated 65,000 passengers. By the end of June this year, the port had already welcomed 25,000 visitors on nine cruise calls—marking the highest achievement since its opening.

This growth is attributed both to a robust global recovery in cruise tourism demand following COVID-19 and to Yeosu Port’s enhanced accessibility and competitive tourism offerings.

In particular, the 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo and the establishment of a Southern Coast Tourism Belt are expected to have a positive impact on attracting more international cruise tourists.

However, experts note that in order for Yeosu Port to become a ‘home port’ where cruises start and end their journeys—rather than a mere port of call—further investments will be needed. These investments include improving access to international airports, expanding port infrastructure, securing large-scale accommodation facilities, and developing tourism products that encourage longer stays.

Choi Youngjoo, Director General of Tourism at the Gwangju-Jeonnam Integrated Metropolitan City, stated, “Through the port sales events, we were able to strengthen cooperation with global cruise lines and promote Yeosu Port's superior conditions and competitiveness in tourism on the international stage. We will continue to expand our strategic marketing and global networks with international cruise operators to consistently increase cruise calls and help Yeosu Port grow as Korea’s representative home port.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.