Editorial | Cruise terminal in Hong Kong needs out-of-the-box ideas
The private sector should be tapped to breathe new life into the woefully underutilised Kai Tak facility
It says something about Hong Kong’s cruise industry when its state-of-the-art terminal is due for a major revamp after being in use for barely more than a decade.
The multibillion-dollar Kai Tak facility underpins the city’s ambition to become a regional cruise hub and could ill afford to become a white elephant.
Authorities must strive to breathe new life into the woefully underutilised facility by tapping private sector expertise.
To be fair, the cruise terminal is making a comeback following the prolonged pandemic. But the ship calls and passenger numbers are still way below pre-Covid levels.
More often than not, the site makes headlines for the wrong reasons. It remains nothing more than an inaccessible public park outside berth days.
And when cruise ships arrive, complaints over insufficient transport connections and logistical support abound.
The latest bid by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau for the market to submit proposals for better utilisation of space at the terminal is a positive step forward.