Gangwon Launches "Hokkaido Cruise Inspection Team"
Departure Ceremony Held at Sokcho Port; Doubling Scale Considered for Next Year
Exploring Cruise Revitalization and Cooperation with Hokkaido
Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Kim Jintae) announced that on September 6, a launch ceremony for the "Hokkaido Cruise Inspection Team with Residents" was held at Sokcho Port, marking the start of a seven-day voyage.
Kim Jintae, Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, and other attendees are having a commemorative photo after the launch ceremony of the "Hokkaido Cruise Inspection Team with Residents" at Sokcho Port on the 6th. Provided by Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
The inspection team boarded the Costa Serena, a large international cruise ship with a capacity of 110,000 tons, and will visit major ports of call such as Muroran, Sapporo, Kushiro, and Hakodate to explore ways to boost tourism and strengthen cooperation and exchanges.
The team includes key figures such as Son Changhwan, Director of the Global Headquarters of Gangwon Province, Eom Yunsun, Chair of the Provincial Council's Agriculture and Fisheries Committee, Bae Sangyo, Deputy Mayor of Sokcho, as well as a group of journalists. Notably, 200 residents of Gangwon are participating as a cruise experience group to directly assess travel satisfaction and identify areas for improvement.
A total of 3,315 people are on board this cruise, including 2,315 passengers and approximately 1,000 crew members, with about 300 of them being Gangwon residents.
Initially, Governor Kim Jintae and Provincial Council Chair Kim Siseong were scheduled to join the inspection team. However, due to the declaration of a disaster in Gangneung caused by drought, they were unable to participate in order to focus on on-site response efforts. Instead, they personally saw off the inspection team at Sokcho Port, requesting, "Have a safe trip, and if you share your experiences and insights from the cruise, we will actively reflect them in future cruise policies."
He continued, "This year, a total of four large-scale cruises will depart from Sokcho, with 2,300 passengers per voyage, making it a major project involving 10,000 people over four trips. Next year, we plan to increase the number of cruises to more than ten and are also considering opening a triangular route connecting Japan and Vladivostok."
Kim Jintae, Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, and other attendees are seeing off the "Hokkaido Cruise Inspection Team with Residents" at Sokcho Port on the 6th. Provided by Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
He also stated, "We will analyze the results of the resident experience group and consider continuing this initiative next year."
The inspection team plans to promote cruise activation and explore possibilities for tourism, industrial, and policy cooperation with Hokkaido through various activities: a meeting with the resident cruise experience group and a "Visit Gangwon Year" promotional event on board on the 7th; a visit to industrial sites in Hokkaido on the 8th; a seminar on the operational experiences of Kushiro Special Self-Governing Province on the 9th; and another "Visit Gangwon Year" promotional event in Hakodate on the 10th.
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