Kao Min-lin, the head of Kaohsiung's tourism bureau, revealed on Sunday that the city has planned to work with local businesses to launch the so-called "double home port" route between Kaohsiung and Hong Kong in a bid to increase cruise ship tourism.

As Hong Kong is a major connecting port, Kao said that the city government anticipates an influx of visitors from Southeast Asia aside from Hong Kong and Macau to Kaohsiung.

Cruise ship passengers disembarking in Kaohsiung will be able to explore with ease using the city's public transport network, Kao added.

The city's tourism bureau added that the relaunch will mark three years since the city's ports have opened up to taking in tourists from Macau and Hong Kong via cruises.

The bureau said due to geographic proximity, travelers from Macau and Hong Kong accounted for two-thirds of visitors to Kaohsiung prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, with the number of concerts that have been scheduled in the city this year, the Kaohsiung City Government said performance and tourism deals will be announced in the future to attract visitors.