Yeosu Grows Beyond a Simple Port of Call
Aiming to Become a Tourism Hub
The large Japanese cruise ship Mitsui Ocean Fuji docked at Yeosu Port on the morning of May 9.
This vessel, newly launched by Japan’s MOL Cruise Line in 2023, measures 198 meters in length and has a gross tonnage of 32,000 tons. Carrying around 600 people, including passengers and crew, it visited Yeosu. The port call lasted about 10 hours. Both Yeosu City and the local community made every effort during this short period to showcase the charms of Yeosu.
The city set up a temporary currency exchange, Japanese interpreters, and a tourist information center at the Yeosu Port passenger terminal. They also prepared a pop-up store for Yeosu’s specialty products and a traditional fan welcome event where visitors’ names were written in Korean, so that passengers could experience Yeosu from the moment they disembarked. In particular, considering that most tourists were middle-aged or older, the city arranged a tour route focused on tranquil attractions such as Heungguksa Temple, Odongdo Island, and the Yeosu Maritime Cable Car, and operated dedicated cultural tourism guides for these visitors.
This port call was the result of Yeosu City’s prior planning and marketing efforts. Last year, the city participated in “Port Sales” in Tokyo, Japan, where it held B2B consultations with cruise operators. Earlier this year, Yeosu invited representatives from MOL to the city for a familiarization tour, showcasing port facilities, tourism resources, and transportation connections.
Although cruise tourists tend to stay for a shorter period than general tourists, their average spending power is higher and they are more sensitive to satisfaction. Many believe that Yeosu City’s strategy, developed through this port call, lies in enhancing the details of hospitality.
Tourism experts commented, “Customized tourism content has been developed and strategies have been established to differentiate Yeosu from other ports of call,” adding, “This can also be seen as a test bed for the transition from a tourist destination to a true tourism city.”
In fact, including this visit, the city has confirmed a total of three visits by the Ocean Fuji this year, and the arrival of the American ship Norwegian Spirit is also scheduled. As a result, Yeosu is increasingly likely to establish itself as a key stop in the Northeast Asia cruise network.
Professors of tourism studies stated, “Whether Yeosu’s success story will spread to neighboring municipalities depends on the connectivity of tourism resources and access infrastructure.” They added, “For now, Yeosu’s port-centered structure is advantageous, but if a joint tourism route is developed with Suncheon and Gwangyang in the future, a ripple effect can be expected throughout the eastern region of Jeollanam-do.”
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