File photo of the luxury cruise ship MSC Preziosa, seen at anchor in Rio de Janeiro in 2014. – AFP photo
BINTULU (Dec 7): The federal government is committed to facilitating the entry of international cruise ships to dock at Malaysia’s waters, said Tourism, Arts and Culture minister Dato Sri Tiong King Sing.
He said Malaysia has made significant progress in launching and easing the entry of international cruise ships into Malaysian ports.
“In December alone, three international cruise ships will make their inaugural docking at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal in George Town, Penang,” he said in a statement.
He said these cruise ships are expected to bring about 4,800 international tourists to the country’s waters, adding that between Dec 6 this year and March 30 next year, five cruise ships will dock at Swettenham Pier.
This month, the three vessels expected to arrive in the country are Azamara Pursuit, MS Blue Dream Melody, and AIDAStella, he said.
Tiong, who is also member of parliament for Bintulu clarified that from January to March next year, two additional cruise ships are anticipated to arrive – Norwegian Sky and Queen Anne.
“Azamara Pursuit, which will arrive on Dec 6, is expected to sail from Port Louis, Mauritius, to Singapore and has brought about 600 passengers to Penang,” he said.
The MS Blue Dream Melody, which can accommodate between 1,266 and 1,582 passengers, departed from Shanghai on Nov 26 and will stop at 17 ports in 10 countries, including Malaysia.
AIDAStella, the largest of the three cruise ships, is expected to carry between 2,194 and 2,700 passengers and is currently on a 21-day voyage from Dubai to Laemchabang.
Tiong stated that advancing the cruise tourism industry is one of the main focuses of the Ministry Tourism, Arts and Culture.
He said Penang, which is internationally recognised as a food paradise, is a strategic location to combine gastronomic tourism with cruising experiences in the country’s waters.
“This strategy not only attracts attention and interest from high-profile tourists but also stimulates economic growth, particularly in the cruise tourism sector,” he added.
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