Busan Port extends operations to encourage longer stays by cruise passengers

Busan’s cruise terminal has begun 24-hour operations to encourage longer passenger stays and overnight tourism. The city logged five overnight calls in 2026, with two more expected by the end of September. On Thursday, the ultra-exclusive cruise ship The World docked for a two-night, three-day stay. City officials are promoting overnight itineraries as a way to boost local spending.

Busan became the nation’s first cruise terminal to operate on a 24-hour schedule earlier this year.

The city has logged five overnight cruise calls so far in 2026, with two more expected before the end of September.

The World docked in Busan for a two-night, three-day stay on Thursday.

The municipal government and the Busan Tourism Organization operated an onboard concierge desk to help passengers with currency exchange, taxi bookings, shopping guides and cellular service.

The city plans similar programming for the Azamara Pursuit when it arrives on Sept. 24.

Published Sep 18, 2026 3:54 pm KST

Busan Port International Passenger Terminal / Korea Times file

Extended operations at Busan’s cruise terminal are beginning to pay dividends, transforming Korea’s principal maritime gateway from a brief port of call into an overnight tourist destination.

After becoming the nation's first cruise terminal to operate on a 24-hour schedule earlier this year, the southern port city has logged five overnight calls so far in 2026, with two more expected before the end of September, as operators increasingly extend their port visits well into the evening.

City officials say lifting traditional time restrictions allows passengers to explore the vibrant coastal metropolis, turning shore excursions into meaningful revenue for local restaurants, retail districts and cultural venues across the city.

The economic strategy was on full display Thursday with the arrival of The World, an ultra-exclusive residential cruise ship whose affluent residents own their staterooms rather than rent them. The vessel docked for a two-night, three-day stay that the city is using to demonstrate how round-the-clock terminal access directly translates into extended visits and greater economic impact.

To capitalize on the port call, the municipal government and the Busan Tourism Organization operated an onboard concierge desk to assist passengers with currency exchange, taxi bookings, shopping guides and cellular service. On Saturday, the city provided interested passengers with an evening excursion to the popular Gwangalli beachfront district, renowned for its drone light shows and dramatic views of the illuminated Gwangan Bridge.

The transition to round-the-clock service required extensive coordination between the Busan Port Authority and federal agencies overseeing customs, immigration and quarantine (CIQ). Previously, these regulatory bodies operated almost exclusively during daytime hours, forcing cruise ships to adhere to rigid evening departure schedules.

With those operational bottlenecks cleared, municipal tourism officials are actively pitching overnight itineraries to global cruise lines, offering custom shore packages bundled with private transport, local dining and cultural performances. The city plans similar programming when the Azamara Pursuit arrives on Sept. 24.

"Cruise tourism's competitiveness lies not just in how many ships arrive, but in how long and how deeply travelers experience Busan," said Na Yun-bin, head of the city's Tourism and MICE Bureau.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

为了鼓励游客延长停留时间和发展过夜旅游，釜山邮轮码头已开始24小时运营。2026年，釜山共接待了5艘过夜邮轮，预计到9月底还将有2艘。周四，超豪华邮轮“世界号”停靠釜山，进行为期两晚三天的停留。釜山市政府官员正在大力推广过夜行程，以促进当地消费。

今年早些时候，釜山成为韩国首个24小时运营的邮轮码头。

截至目前，该市在 2026 年已接待了 5 次过夜邮轮，预计在 9 月底之前还将有 2 次。

世界号邮轮于周四停靠釜山，进行为期两晚三天的停留。

釜山市政府和釜山旅游局在船上设立了服务台，为乘客提供货币兑换、出租车预订、购物指南和手机服务等服务。

该市计划在 9 月 24 日 Azamara Pursuit 号抵达时安排类似的活动。

发布于2026年9月18日下午3:54（韩国标准时间）

釜山港国际客运码头/韩国时报档案

釜山邮轮码头的扩建运营开始产生效益，将韩国的主要海上门户从一个短暂的停靠港转变为一个过夜的旅游目的地。

今年早些时候，该南部港口城市成为全国第一个实行 24 小时运营的邮轮码头。截至目前，2026 年已有 5 艘邮轮过夜停靠，预计 9 月底前还将有 2 艘邮轮停靠，因为邮轮运营商越来越多地将停靠时间延长至深夜。

市政官员表示，取消传统的时间限制可以让乘客探索这座充满活力的沿海大都市，并将岸上观光活动转化为全市各地餐馆、零售区和文化场所的可观收入。

周四，随着“世界号”邮轮的到来，这项经济战略得到了充分展现。这艘超豪华的住宅式邮轮，其富裕的住客拥有自己的舱房，而非租赁。该邮轮停靠两晚三天，市政府借此机会展示了全天候开放的码头如何直接转化为更长的游客停留时间和更大的经济效益。

为了充分利用停靠港口的机会，釜山市政府和釜山旅游局在船上设立了服务台，为乘客提供货币兑换、出租车预订、购物指南和手机服务等协助。周六，市政府还为感兴趣的乘客安排了一次前往热门的广安里海滨区的夜间游览，该区域以无人机灯光秀和灯光璀璨的广安大桥而闻名。

釜山港务局与负责海关、移民和检疫（CIQ）的联邦机构之间需要进行广泛的协调，才能实现全天候服务。此前，这些监管机构几乎只在白天运作，迫使邮轮必须遵守严格的晚间离港时间表。

随着运营瓶颈的消除，市政旅游官员正积极向全球邮轮公司推介过夜行程，提供包含私人交通、当地餐饮和文化表演的定制岸上观光套餐。该市计划在9月24日阿扎马拉探索号邮轮抵达时推出类似的活动。

“邮轮旅游的竞争力不仅在于有多少邮轮抵达，还在于游客在釜山停留的时间长短和体验深度，”釜山市旅游会展局局长罗云彬表示。

本文由生成式人工智能协助发布，并由《韩国时报》编辑。