Anchor: South Korea's tourism industry is slowly recovering after being hit by the outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). International cruise liners carrying tourists are again making stops in the southern port city of Busan after almost 40 cancellations on the heels of the epidemic. 
Our Kim In-kyung has more.
 
Report: Beginning with the U.K.-based Diamond Princess on Wednesday, cruise ships are again making calls at South Korea's second largest city of Busan.
 
The Busan Port Authority (BPA) said Friday that only two cruise liners entered its port in July due to the outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), but eight will visit next month, including the 35-thousand ton Ocean Dream on Sunday.
 
Some 40 cruise ships are expected to dock in Busan by December, including 12 in September and 14 in October.
 
The port authority says about 80 cruise ships will make stops in Busan, which lies on the southeastern end of the country, this year, bringing some 163-thousand tourists to the city. The estimated figures are sharply down from 110 cruise ships bringing 245-thousand tourists last year.
 
Recently 36 cruise liners which had planned to stop in Busan canceled their entry due to the MERS epidemic.
 
Now that the MERS outbreak has stabilized, the BPA has decided to actively promote cruise ship tourism to the city with the Busan Metropolitan Government.
 
The port authority will offer a 50 percent discount on port dues for entry and exit, berthing and anchorage between September and December, up from its current 30 percent discount.
 
The Busan government will also hold welcome and send-off events for cruise ships during its month-long Busan Grand Sale 2015, which kicks off on September 11.
Kim In-kyung, KBS World Radio News.