99 cruise calls logged through late October
113 calls and about 210,000 passengers expected by year-end
Incheon port is sustaining its growth momentum in cruise tourism, having set an all-time passenger record since the port opened.
According to the Incheon Port Authority (IPA), Incheon port logged 99 cruise calls and a cumulative 197,687 passengers as of late October 2026.
The figures surpass both the previous record of 95 cruise calls set in 2013 and the previous passenger high of 183,909 set in 2014, breaking both marks for the first time in more than a decade.
Riding that momentum, the port also hit its annual passenger target ahead of schedule. The milestone came Sunday, when the Visio, a 100,000-ton cruise ship operated by Tianjin Orient International Cruise Co., arrived from Tianjin, China, via Jeju carrying 1,161 passengers and 574 crew members. The arrival pushed the cumulative passenger count to 200,303, surpassing this year's target of 200,000.
The IPA worked to improve the port entry and exit environment in response to surging cruise demand, adding security and operations staff at the terminal and expanding passenger amenities.
The authority also coordinated with customs, immigration and quarantine agencies to streamline passenger flow and sharply cut processing times, and worked with Incheon city to improve transportation and tourism information services.
With 113 cruise calls and about 210,000 passengers expected at Incheon port by year-end, the outlook for next year is even brighter.
The number of "Fly & Cruise" homeport calls — which leverage connectivity with Incheon International Airport — is set to grow about 64 percent, from 11 this year to 18 in 2027.
Homeport operations generate a significantly larger economic ripple effect for the region through spending on accommodation and tourism, as embarking and disembarking passengers far outnumber transit visitors. The expansion is expected to strengthen the port's overall competitiveness.
Based on berth reservations for next year, Incheon port is projected to receive 132 cruise calls in total, putting it on track for a second consecutive record year.
"This record performance is the fruit of the hard work put in on the ground by shipping lines, customs and immigration and quarantine agencies, and local government," IPA President Park In-seo said. "In line with the coming expansion of homeport operations, we will raise our service standards further — including baggage handling and faster check-in — so that the benefits of cruise tourism spread across the wider local economy."
gilbert@heraldcorp.com
