NEWS
HONG KONG: NEXT WINE & DINE FESTIVAL COULD TAKE PLACE ON A CRUISE SHIP
By Siulan Law Mathews DipWSET
29-7-2021
Source: Genting Cruise Lines
Some of the events of the next Wine and Dine Festival will be held on a cruise ship if negotiations between organiser Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and Genting Cruise Lines materialised.
Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post quoted Genting Cruise Lines’ Senior Vice-president Christine Li Feng Xia as saying that the two sides are having very close discussions and Genting has already made plans for some events to take place on their vessel Genting Dream.
“They don’t have a physical venue onshore … for the Wine & Dine Festival, so we will join them as a sea venue,” Li ttold South China Morning Post.
It remained unclear how many of the event’s activities would be held at sea, but Li was upbeat over the progress of negotiations with HKTB.
The Wine and Dine Festival usually takes place in October or November on the harbourfront in Central district in Hong Kong.
The last physical show was held in 2018 attracting 180,000 visitors. It was cancelled in 2019 due to anti-government protests, while last year’s show took place mostly online because of the pandemic.
Genting Cruise Lines will start their “cruise to nowhere” trips from Hong Kong tomorrow. The city’s cruise itineraries have stopped since February last year when the pandemic erupted.
Genting said they will follow strict COVID-19 safety measures. They will only accept fully vaccinated passengers who can provide negative COVID test results.
Anyone tested positive during the trip will be isolated together with their close contacts. Genting said it’s highly likely that the vessel will be called back by Hong Kong’s health department in case passengers or staffs onboard are tested positive.
The vessel was equipped with an intensive care unit, three negative-pressure wards and 41 other isolation cabins.
The company has been operating “cruise to nowhere” trips in Taiwan and Singapore during the pandemic.
Genting believes that their experience in operating these trips will help them safely organise events for Hong Kong's Wine and Dine Festival.
(the writer can be contacted at: info@thewinechronicle.com)
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