Cruise News - Maritime News

Shanghai has been actively pushing forward the cruise industry, extending the industry chain, and promoting the international cruise service trade.

The second International Cruise Service Trade Summit Forum was held on the fifth day of the second China International Import Expo.

At present, 15 cruise terminals are in operation in China, while another six ports are being designed, constructed, or upgraded. In 2018, China handled over 4.9 million inbound and outbound tourist visits, according to Zhu Guangyao, deputy inspector of the Ministry of Commerce's department of trade in services and commercial services.

China is building 10 cruise ships this year and the cruise economy is undergoing a key upgrade from high-speed growth to high-quality and high-class development.

Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal Entry Duty-free Shop was unveiled during the CIIE among the first cruise terminal entry duty-free shops in China.

The Wusongkou terminal, officially opened in 2011, has been the biggest home port for cruises in Asia for three years, taking 63 percent of China's cruise market, Shanghai vice mayor Zong Ming said at the forum.

Wang Hong, secretary of Shanghai Baoshan District Committee, expected the terminal to be among the top three cruise home ports in the world within five years.

Baoshan District has achieved a leap in development of the cruise economy, and has become driver of the industry in Asia.

During the forum, the Baoshan District government released an updated version of its support for the cruise industry in the light of the results of the original policies last year.

Five Baoshan-based cruise service companies and five foreign exhibitors signed agreements at the expo, valuing more than 1.2 billion yuan (US$170 million).

Baoshan District reached agreements for purchases totaling US$206 million, or 1.5 billion yuan, 5.1 times more than at the first CIIE.

SOURCE: SHINE