Tianjin to become yachting and cruise liner hub

The luxury cruise liner, Silver Shadow, made a stopover at the Tianjin International Cruise Home Port on May 2, which is the ninth luxury liner the Tianjin Port has received in 2012.

The arrival of Silver Shadow, together with that of Diamond Princess on May 1, marked the beginning of a flood of international luxury cruise ships anchoring at Tianjin Port.

A sharp increase in number of voyages and passengers has brought more vitality into the cruise ship industry in the Binhai New Area. The Area, in the hope of building one of the best yachting and cruise liner hubs in Northeast Asia, plans to promote its shipping services and other related services.

It is understood that the implementation of preferential harbor rates and measures to facilitate customs clearance—the result of ceaseless efforts from the Tianjin Port (Group) Co, Ltd, Administrative Committee of Dongjiang Free Trade of Tianjin Port—attracted more foreign cruise companies, who later increased their number of voyages to the Dongjiang Bay in response to a surging market demand in Tianjin.

According to Tianjin International Cruise Home Port, unlike former years when cruise ships arrived mainly in July and August, this year has seen a regular influx of cruise ships into Tianjin since March, with frequently added shipping routes from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and Silversea Cruises Ltd.

According to the Commerce Commission of the Binhai New Area, the quality project of “A Two-Hour Tour” is to be included as part of cruises related services. Efforts will be made to expand the consumer market in Beijing, Hebei and other inland regions to further cooperation in tourism with Japan and Korea and other related countries in Southeast Asia. Strategic cooperation will be established between Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei and around the Bohai area, a solid foundation will be laid for founding a first-class yatching and cruise liner hub in Northeast Asia.