Sri Lanka, Feb. 9 -- 2,100 Thai cruise passengers arrived at Hambantota International Port (HIP) this week aboard the MV Celebrity Millennium. The call points to the emergence of Thailand as a promising new market for Sri Lanka's cruise tourism.

The Malta-flagged Celebrity Millennium, operated by Celebrity Cruises, arrived from Phuket on 2 February 2026 with 2,171 passengers and 969 crew on board. Measuring 294 metres in length, the vessel is one of the largest cruise ships to call at HIP to date and will proceed onward to Colombo following its Hambantota stopover.

Passengers disembarking at HIP travelled inland to some of the country's most iconic attractions, including Yala National Park, Udawalawa, and Kataragama, highlighting the po...