Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah when opening PKCT on 05 September, 2022 said, “I am confident with the efforts made by PKCT. The terminal can be a catalyst for the growth of the domestic and international tourism sector, as well as to generate income of the tourism industry in Selangor which has been badly affected by the Covd-19 pandemic. I suggest that facilities and infrastructure at the terminal be improved to make it into an international passenger cruise terminal, as well as for the terminal to be used as a venue to exhibit and promote indigenous handicraft products.”
Responding positively to the call made by the Sultan, a cruise ship, formerly known Explorer Dream and rebranded as Resorts World One, set-up by Malaysian tycoon Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay of Genting Berhad, operated by Singapore’s Resorts World with 1,900 passengers and 1,020 crews on board departed from PKCT on 02 March for Hong Kong. It offered one week unforgettable sailings led by Swedish Captain Pelle Hellen with port calls along the way for onshore excursions in Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City and Danang arrived safely in Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Cruise Terminal on 08 March.
In fact, the Resorts World One became the first cruise ship to make Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, its home base since the Covid-19 pandemic decimated the cruising tourism sector. People have not been traveling for the last couple of years, so everyone is now looking forward to cruising again.
As for PKCT, according to its Chairman, Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof, “In 2019, Malaysia’s cruise tourism sector captured the highest market share in Southeast Asia region by the number of port calls. PKCT was the leading dedicated cruise terminal operator in Malaysia with 40% market share based on number of port calls in the same year. PKCT has handled more than 5 million passengers and more than 5,500 cruise ships since it began operations in 1995. However, PKCT was not spared by Covid-19 pandemic as the cruise industry was on a standstill due to the lockdown. Nevertheless, it preserved and pivoted towards serving laid up vessels during the last two years.”
PKCT has the competitive advantage to be Asia’s top cruise ships destination. The terminal is strategically located in the most developed and progressive state in the country, Selangor which has myriad of tourism attractions. The terminal is also about 1 hour drive to Kuala Lumpur, one of the most visited cities in the world. Owing to its strategic location, PKCT has the capability to attract major global passenger cruise liners.
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