Incheon Port eyes record 131 cruise calls in 2027, cementing hub status

Incheon Port is rapidly establishing itself as South Korea's premier cruise hub.

The Incheon Port Authority (IPA) announced Thursday that 131 cruise ship calls are scheduled at Incheon Port in 2027 — 18 as home-port voyages and 113 as transit calls — marking what would be a second consecutive all-time record.

The figure far surpasses any previous benchmark. Incheon Port recorded 95 cruise calls in 2013 but stagnated for years afterward. With 118 calls now expected by the end of 2026, the port is on track to break that 13-year-old record this year before surpassing it again in 2027.

Particularly notable is the growth in home-port operations, where passengers board and disembark in Incheon rather than stopping briefly as part of a voyage originating elsewhere. Home-port calls generate significantly longer stays and greater local spending than transit calls, making them a high-value segment for tourism and the broader economy.

The 18 home-port calls scheduled for 2027 represent an increase of about 64 percent from 11 in 2026.

The trend signals that Incheon is positioning itself not merely as a stopover but as a departure point for the Northeast Asian cruise industry.

The IPA said it is also working to improve passenger services and operational systems to keep pace with the industry's growth. Plans include strengthening coordination with customs, immigration and quarantine agencies as well as Incheon city government, upgrading cruise terminal facilities, and enhancing passenger convenience to build a stable operational foundation.

"We will continue to pursue aggressive overseas marketing and operational improvements so that Incheon Port can grow into a key hub contributing to the development of the national tourism industry and the revitalization of the local economy," IPA President Lee Gyeong-gyu said.