HUALIEN (TVBS News) — The luxury cruise ship Scenic Eclipse II glided into Hualien Port (花蓮港) Thursday morning, becoming the first international vessel to visit the eastern Taiwan harbor since a devastating earthquake struck the region on April 3 last year. Local officials hailed the arrival as a powerful symbol of Hualien's tourism recovery after months of rebuilding efforts.
Officials from the Port of Hualien division of Taiwan International Ports Corp. (台灣港務公司花蓮港務分公司), the government-owned ports operator, orchestrated a celebratory welcome featuring tugboats performing a traditional water salute. Meanwhile, the Hualien Tourism Department (花蓮縣政府觀光處) arranged cultural performances showcasing indigenous Taiwanese dances, offering international visitors their first glimpse of local traditions upon arrival.
Port Director Lin Ching-fu (林清富) reported that the Scenic Eclipse II arrived from Manila with roughly 180 passengers primarily from Australia, the United Kingdom and North America. The vessel will next visit Keelung Port (基隆港) on Taiwan's northern coast. County officials emphasized their strategic partnerships with both local and international tourism companies, crediting these collaborations with restoring crucial direct flights to Hong Kong and attracting international cruise ships back to Hualien's shores.
Hualien Port completed essential repairs to its cruise terminal and passenger clearance facilities earlier this year, significantly improving its capacity to serve international travelers. The Bahamian-flagged Scenic Eclipse II, weighing 17,592 gross tons, will make two additional visits to Hualien on June 19 and 21, according to port authorities. Looking ahead to 2025, the Port of Hualien has secured bookings from nine cruise ships expected to bring approximately 4,100 passengers. To attract these vessels, the port has implemented financial incentives, including waived berthing fees worth an estimated NT$1.2 million (about US$37,048). ★
