First International Cruise Ship Visits Taitung! The UK's Caledonian Sky Makes Its Maiden Call

Taitung has become a hit across Taiwan with its rich, high-quality tourism resources, drawing the attention of domestic and international tour groups. Yesterday (3/22), the first-ever top-tier British luxury cruise ship, the "Caledonian Sky," made a special stop off the coast of Taitung, ferrying 95 passengers ashore by rubber boat for a tour of Taitung, opening a new chapter in international cruise tourism to Taitung. County Magistrate Huang Chien-ting placed great importance on the visit and arranged a song-and-dance welcome by the Gaoshan Dance Troupe, showcasing Taitung's local cultural characteristics and humanistic scenery.

The "Caledonian Sky" opened a fly cruise route (flight plus cruise) from Europe via Taiwan to Japan for the first time, and it is the first time a small yet exquisite foreign cruise ship has arranged cruise tourism covering both the main island of Taiwan and its offshore islands. After British passengers fly to Taiwan, they begin a round-island and island-hopping cruise from Keelung. The Taiwan ports of call include Keelung Port, Taichung Port, Jinshui Port in Kinmen, Magong Port, Anping Port, Fugang Fishing Port in Taitung and Hualien Port, among others. After finishing the Taiwan itinerary, the route moves on to Japan, and docking in Taitung is a first in history.

The Taitung County Department of Transportation and Tourism Development stated that in recent years the county government has vigorously promoted the development of marine tourism, improving port facilities and berthing conditions to attract more foreign visitors to Taitung. This time, in preparation for welcoming the first foreign cruise ship to dock in Taitung, it also worked with the Maritime and Port Bureau and relevant units to carefully and properly arrange the disembarkation routes for cruise passengers, the cleanliness of the port environment, and the vehicle traffic routes, hoping to give foreign visitors a comfortable travel experience. This also reflects the county government's efforts to promote marine tourism.

After finishing the tour of downtown Taitung, the passengers of the "Caledonian Sky" are expected to return to Fugang Port at 4 p.m., taking rubber boats back to the mother ship, the "Caledonian Sky," in the same way they came ashore, before heading to the next city for sightseeing.