Chinese firm hopes to operate eight cruise ships in South China Sea
Company also planning cruise liner docks in Hainan, says state-run newspaper, amid heightened tensions over maritime claims in the disputed waters
Up to eight Chinese ships will offer cruises to the South China Sea over the next five years, a state-run newspaper said on Thursday, as Beijing continues to promote tourism to the disputed waters.
Sanya International Cruise Development Co, a joint venture by COSCO Shipping, China National Travel Service (HK) Group and China Communications Construction Co, will buy between five and eight ships, the official China Daily reported.
It will also build four cruise liner docks in Sanya, a Chinese resort city on the southern island province of Hainan, the paper added.
Liu Junli, chairman of Sanya International Cruise, said the company was already operating the “Dream of the South China Sea” cruise ship and plans to add another two cruise ships by next summer, the report said.
The ships will travel to the Crescent group of islands, part of the Paracels, and is also “considering a cruise around the South China Sea at the appropriate time”, it added.
Hotels, villas and shops will all be built on the Crescent group, the paper said.