"Foreign Passengers from More Than 70 Countries" PanStar Cruise Opens a New Market for Busan Marine Tourism

[Financial News] As foreign tourists visiting Busan expand their travel activities beyond the traditional focus on downtown sightseeing, shopping and food to include marine tourism, cruises departing from Busan are also gaining popularity.
According to the local tourism industry on the 17th, foreign passengers from more than 70 countries—including countries in Asia, North America, Europe, Oceania and South America—have boarded Miracle Cruise, the only cruise ship in South Korea operated by PanStar Group.
The cruise operates on the international Busan–Osaka route. In addition to short-haul tourism demand from Japanese and Chinese travelers, the number of passengers from the United States, Canada and Europe is also increasing. Foreigners accounted for about 45% of all passengers last month, during the vacation season. In other words, four or five out of every 10 passengers were foreign nationals.
Recently, foreign tourists visiting Busan have increasingly preferred experiential content that allows them to enjoy the journey itself, rather than simply visiting destinations. As a result, interest in cruise tourism is also growing.
In fact, about 10,000 foreign tourists boarded Miracle Cruise from January through August. Non-Asian tourists accounted for 26% of that total. In particular, American tourists made up more than about 10% of all foreign passengers. PanStar explained that this shows Miracle Cruise is being recognized not merely as a means of transportation, but as a K-marine tourism product.
Foreign tourists tended to plan and book Miracle Cruise in advance as a major part of their Busan itinerary. Demand from travelers who plan ahead is steadily increasing, with bookings typically made one to three months before departure and, in some cases, more than six months in advance.
Travel information and bookings were mainly handled through digital channels used by free independent travelers (FITs). Many tourists checked product information through portal searches, the official website and social media. Direct bookings through the official website also accounted for a large share of reservations.
PanStar is launching various promotions in response to the increase in domestic and international passengers and rising demand for autumn travel. Until the 30th, customers who book through the PanStar Miracle website will receive discounts of up to 60%, depending on their cabin and departure schedule. PanStar will also offer a Fireworks “cruise-cation” package through December, featuring live performances and fireworks festivals on board every Saturday, along with cruise accommodations and gourmet experiences.
A PanStar official said, "Foreign tourists visiting Busan have recently been expanding their experiences beyond the city center to include the sea. We plan to further strengthen the global competitiveness of K-cruise tourism products departing from Busan in line with this trend."
[email protected] Kwon Byeong-seok Reporter