Passengers disembarking in HPI from MV Empress of Cordelia Cruises
The highest number of cruise liners arrived at Hambantota International Port (HIP) in June with 2,618 tourists arriving at the port in June, on board the MV Empress of Cordelia Cruises.
The cruise liner, which made 4 calls at HIP within the month, carries tourists from the Chennai Port on scheduled tours. The ship calls at 4 ports in Sri Lanka i.e. Hambantota, Trincomalee, Colombo and KKS. It is the first time the country has experienced such a cruise circuit. Passengers disembarked at HIP to visit several tourist attractions and take day trips.
“HIP has a dedicated berth for passenger liners and our quayside services are well attuned to receiving passengers who are on quick tours to tourist destinations in the South,” says Lance Zuo, General Manager Commercial & Marketing of Hambantota International Port Group.
“This is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs in the indigenous tourist industry, in terms of providing transportation such as vans and three wheelers. The HIP has engaged in positively promoting the tourism industry in the region, since Q4 last year. “We consider it critical for the economic recovery of the country,” he says.