Shanghai aims to meet cruising record

Shanghai is expecting to welcome up to 200 cruise liners this year, meeting its historic level achieved in 2010.The prediction released by Pujiang Frontier Inspection Station said the city’s cruising success in 2010 can be contributed to its Expo 2010 Shanghai launch which highlighted the development of the city’s cruise liner industry, China Business News reported.

“The fact that the number this year did not drop sharply even after the Expo wrapped up means the city’s cruise line industry is developing steadily and the demand for cruise tourism is catching on among the city’s rich,” Pujiang Inspection Station executive official Lu Jun said.“In fact, the developing cruise liner industry is part of the city’s plan to become an international shipping center by 2020.

“And the industry’s rapid development is a result of various government policies aimed at promoting it.”According to the station up to 177 cruise liners docked in Shanghai last year, bringing in up to 240,000 visitors.

The city released its twelfth Five Year Plan this year, vowing to achieve “historical breakthroughs” in the cruise line industry.The plan said it aims to bring in 500 cruise liners in 2016, welcoming up to one to 1.2 million visitors.

Source = etravelblackboardasia