The Busan Port Pop-Up Cruise Market was launched in 2019 as the result of a need for new business avenues for local merchants among overseas tourists, and customer demand for improved shopping options at Busan Port’s cruise terminal. With an average of 3,000 passengers and 1,000 crew per cruise vessel calling at Busan Port, the opportunity for commercial development in this area was clear.
The Busan Port Pop-Up Cruise Market is jointly managed by Busan’s public organizations including the Busan Port Authority, Busan Tourism Organization, Busan Food Truck Association, and the Busan Federation of Handcrafts Cooperatives. The pilot project saw a total of three local merchants and four local food trucks participate over two months. The Busan Port Authority gathered feedback from participating businesses in order to develop the second pop-up market in the second-half of 2019. This second market included an improved rest-area and sales items for vessel crew, as well as cultural experience options for overseas guests.
The Busan Port Authority estimates that each participating business at the Busan Port Pop-Up Cruise Market can expect an annual revenue of 215,000 USD and the creation of 20 part time jobs per voyage. In total, an increase in annual sales of 1.3 million USD is expected and the creation of 2,000 part time jobs for local businesses. In 2020, a dedicated and modern building for the Busan Port Pop-Up Cruise Market will be erected using shipping containers from the port.
As Korea’s major port, and a transshipment and tourism hub of Northeast Asia, Busan Port Authority makes continuous efforts to satisfy the needs of its cruise customers, while identifying and promoting sustainable business ventures for related local businesses, and the revitalization of the local economy.