(Yicai) Aug 18 -- Shanghai’s cruise economy has been recovering quickly since March, when the Ministry of Transport issued the pilot resumption plan, Zhu Min, director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, announced at a press conference today.

Two cruise ships operated by Chinese firms, Blue Dream Star and Zhao Shang Yi Dun, have completed 21 voyages and welcomed 26,000 tourists since they resumed sailing earlier this year. And in 2024, the first domestically built large cruise ship Adora Magic City will make its maiden voyage. This milestone shows that China has developed a complete industry chain for cruise ship design, construction and operation, Zhu noted. 

Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean International Cruises and MSC Mediterranean Cruises will return to Shanghai in 2024 for home port operations, and sales have been strong so far. Hurtigruten Adventure Cruises has also established an office in Shanghai.

The cruise economy has shown its importance since the pilot resumption program started, generating more than CNY300 million (USD41.2 million) in ticket sales revenue, about CNY100 million in ship supply consumption, and about CNY3.5 million in duty-free sales in cruise ports. The industry has also created more than 4,000 new jobs and is expected to create another 20,000 by 2024.

Zhu said that Shanghai aims to become a world-class cruise hub port by 2035, with global influence as a cruise tourism destination and an Asia-Pacific regional cruise economic center. To achieve this goal, Shanghai will foster the growth of local cruise company headquarters, establish Chinese cruise companies with global competitiveness, and attract multinational cruise companies and businesses to set up their regional or business headquarters in Shanghai.

According to public data, Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal saw an increase in passengers from 26,000 in 2006 to 3.78 million in 2019. It became the first cruise home port in Asia in 2014.

Editor: Tom Litting