Following a six-year pause, the Xiamen Port officially resumed direct yacht services last 23rd November as the yacht Bao Hai Hui set sail for Hong Kong.
This resumption further strengthens cross-border exchanges between Xiamen and Hong Kong whilst serving as a step forward towards the diversification of Xiamen Port's business operations.
As of 15th November, Xiamen Port has already welcomed 15 visiting cruises, seeing nearly 30,000 inbound and outbound passengers, with the cruise economy continuing to gain momentum.
Moving forward, this will be a key part in an integrated network that includes air travel, the Xiamen-Kinmen "Mini Three Links" passenger transport, cruise ships, and yachts.
The Bao Hai Hui carried three professionals from the yachting industry, who took turns navigating the yacht.
The 285-nautical-mile journey to Hong Kong took around 19 hours, and captain Hou Hui remarked: "The customs clearance process is efficient and smooth, allowing us to board directly after completing the procedures. This flexible travel option suits our needs perfectly.”
An increasingly important hub for China
The resumption of direct yacht sailing is a microcosm of the ongoing diversification of Xiamen's port operations.
Indeed, Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport has long served as a crucial hub for large-scale cross-border travel.
Since the start of this year, the growing cruise business has further energised port operations.
In particular, StarCruises’ Star Voyager launched a shipping route between Hong Kong and Xiamen in September to deepen collaborative development between Xiamen and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
