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October 24, 2018

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Home » District » Baoshan

Full steam ahead to the future of cruising

By Yang Jian | 00:01 UTC+8 October 24, 2018 | Print Edition

The world’s cruise industry leaders met in Baoshan in the northern Shanghai yesterday to discuss the growth potential of the China market in the next decade.

The Seatrade Cruise Asia Pacific conference, which runs through tomorrow, aims to find opportunities for China’s cruise industry and explore how to balance market growth and stainability.

Top executives from the world’s major cruise lines, government officials and cruise industry stakeholders have been focusing on the development of shipbuilding and improving the services that Baoshan’s Wusongkou cruise terminal can offer.

A travel agent training day will improve the services of cruise agents.

It is the third time Baoshan has hosted the Seatrade Cruise Asia Pacific conference. The first congress was held in this district in 2016.

Sponsored by Seatrade UBM, Wusongkou Cruise Terminal and Shanghai International Cruise Business Institute, the session also included an interesting discussion on how cruising can accelerate the growth of the outbound travel market.

China’s outbound travel market has benefited from the increasing number of the middle-class, resulting in a group of people with more buying power who are willing to purchase mid- to high-end travel products.

About 50 speakers are committed to addressing the conference, including representatives from the global cruise lines, associations, ports and shipyards.

Ahead of the session, delegates were invited to visit Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal followed by an evening reception yesterday.

Baoshan is developing its tourist industry, led by the cruise liner port. Since the terminal commencement in October 2011, it has become the biggest port for cruise liners in Asia, overtaking Barcelona as the world’s fourth largest port in 2016.

Baoshan will develop the terminal and its cruise liner industry to promote Shanghai’s four brands: culture, manufacturing, service and shopping, according to the district government.

Wusongkou terminal will showcase the “service” brand, offering high standards and quality services to cruise liners and companies.

To highlight the “manufacturing” brand, Baoshan has signed a letter of intent with the China State Shipbuilding Corp, the nation’s largest shipbuilder, and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.

Under the scheme, China’s first domestically developed luxury cruise liner is expected to set off on its maiden voyage from Baoshan by 2023.

Baoshan plans a riverside commercial complex covering 250,000 square meters and duty-free stores around the Wusongkou terminal to foster the “shopping” brand.

It will comprise sightseeing tourist offices, a shopping center themed on aerial and marine explorations and a five-star business and leisure hotel.

To create a “cruise liner culture,” the district has hosted leading world summits and conferences, such as the Seatrade congress. It has also hosted the annual Shanghai Cruise Liner Tourism Festival, which includes a float parade, osmanthus festival and wedding ceremonies on cruise liners.

Baoshan


 

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