SHAH ALAM, Aug 5 — Tourism Selangor is actively strengthening the state's cruise tourism industry by improving transport connectivity, enhancing land-based tourism itineraries, and increasing international promotion of the Port Klang Cruise Terminal (PKCT).
The initiative aims to elevate PKCT's status from a port of call to a home port for cruise ships.
Tourism Selangor chief executive officer Chua Yee Ling said doing so is expected to stimulate the local economy, particularly the accommodation, food and beverage, and retail sectors.
Most cruise ships currently calling at Port Klang remain docked for only between six and eight hours.
"However, a large cruise ship can carry between 2,000 and 5,000 passengers. Even if only 10 to 30 per cent of them disembark, the number of tourists received would be equivalent to the arrival of dozens of flights," she said.
To encourage visitors to spend more time in Selangor, Tourism Selangor is collaborating with cruise operators, including Piano Land and Adora Cruises, through the China Holiday travel agency.
The partnership offers three-day, two-night and four-day, three-night packages with PKCT serving as the home port. Under these packages, domestic and international tourists can stay overnight, shop, and visit various destinations across Selangor before boarding their cruise or after completing their voyage.
For passengers making only a brief stop, Tourism Selangor has also introduced four shore excursion packages.
The first is Jalan Kaki Warisan Klang, which takes visitors to Little India, the town's mural lanes, Muzium Diraja Klang, and local souvenir shops.
The second is the Pulau Ketam Ecotourism Tour. Through PKCT's new small jetty, tourists can board boats directly to Pulau Ketam to experience its mangrove forests and fish farms, reducing travelling time by up to one hour.
The third package offers a six-hour golfing experience at several golf courses around Klang, while the fourth gives visitors the opportunity to shop at GM Klang, i-City Shah Alam, and commercial areas in Sunway.
Meanwhile, Chua said Tourism Selangor is working to reinstate the free shuttle bus service between GM Klang and PKCT.
The agency is also collaborating with the Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) to promote the Hop-On Hop-Off tourist bus service and is planning to extend its route to Shah Alam to make it easier for visitors to explore more destinations across Selangor. The proposal is currently under consideration.
She added that PKCT is now equipped with a new small jetty, allowing cruise passengers to board boats directly to Pulau Ketam without having to travel via another jetty. The facility is expected to increase visitor numbers to the island while boosting the local community's economy.
What is a home port?
A home port is the principal operating base for a cruise line, where passengers begin and end their voyages.
Unlike a port of call, where a cruise ship docks only temporarily during its itinerary, a home port provides more comprehensive facilities, including passenger terminals, ship maintenance services and logistics operations.
Home port status also generates a greater economic impact, as tourists typically stay in hotels, dine, shop, and use various local services before or after their cruise.
