Taiwan International Ports Corporation, Ltd.

The 1.09 million passengers processed through the Port of Keelung in 2019 broke yet another all-time record for the port. Of particular note this past year was the strong rise in domestic ferry passengers. The total number of passengers processed on the Keelung-Matsu route this year not only marked the end of the steady decline seen on this route since 2016 but also managed to exceed the 2012 peak by 6,000 passengers, setting a new recent record of 110,000 passengers. In terms of international cruise passengers, the 946,000 processed through the port in 2019 marked a slight rise over the 941,000 handled in 2018. Just under a quarter (22.5%) of these were port-of-call cruise passengers, underscoring Port of Keelung’s bullish rise not only as a cruise ship homeport but as an increasingly popular port of call as well.
 
Port of Keelung officials note that 2019 was a year of many groundbreaking ‘firsts’. The largest passenger-ship-tonnage day was set on May 1^st when Princess’ Majestic Princess, MCS’ Splendida, and Star Cruises’ SuperStar Aquarius were in port at the same time. The largest homeport-passenger day was set on July 8^th when Princess’ Majestic Princess and Dream Cruises’ World Dream were both in port. Also, the largest passenger-ship-call day was set on November 3^rd when 5 ships, including MS The World, Cosa neoRomantica, SuperStar Aquarius, MS Westerdam, and Cosco Star, were concurrently in port.
 
2019 was also a year of continued structural improvements at the port. The port financed the installation of a state-of-the-art, automated customs-clearance system and launched construction / expansion work on the port’s East and West passenger terminals. Furthermore, in 2019, the port penned an MOU with Korea’s Incheon Port Authority and an agreement on mutual marketing promotion with Japan’s Port of Hakata. These and other efforts strengthen the Port of Keelung’s formal links with other major ports in the region and lay a strong foundation for the joint promotion of cruise industry growth across Pacific Asia.
 
The Port of Keelung is bullish on prospects in 2020 as well. With continued excitement in the port’s cruise ship market and 10 cruise ships expectedly booked to make their maiden call at the port this year, passenger numbers this year are expected to break 2019’s record. Moreover, the completion of work on the East Passenger Terminal this year will greatly enhance the overall passenger visit experience. The Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) will continue improving hard and soft infrastructures at the port and will continue to work with the national Tourism Bureau and local government authorities to further grow sea and land tourism sectors and contribute to overall economic growth and prosperity.