Duty-free boost arriving soon for Shanghai cruise ship passengers (2)

The plan has been approved in principle by officials at the Ministry of Transport, and working with other agencies, frontier inspection for example, would be a priority this year.

Hainan and Tianjin are also vying to offer such cruises.

The conference also heard that regular cruises to Taiwan would be promoted this year, and cruise operators would be encouraged to offer mixed routes including Taiwan, Hong Kong and other ports overseas.

A 72-hour visa-free stay for cruise ship passengers docking in Shanghai is also expected this year. The policy only applies at local airports at present.

Other measures discussed at the conference included simplifying the exit and entry procedures of foreign cruise tourists, improving emergency plans in foggy weather, accelerating the construction of support facilities and promoting the approval of foreign-funded travel agencies on organizing overseas cruise tours for Chinese tourists,.

The two cruise terminals reported 292,000 tourists up to last month this year, soaring 82 percent from the same period last year, and 86 cruise liners docked in Shanghai, a rise of 72 percent.

It is expected that 285 cruise liners, including 243 making the city its home port, will dock in the city this year, a rise of 44 percent. A total of 1.08 million visitors are expected, a rise of 43.6 percent.