The Shanghai government is considering a proposal to invest up to 10 billion yuan (about HK$9.37 billion) over the next five years building a 'cruise city' on the Shanghai waterfront to receive luxury liners and tap a new market among mainland tourists.
The plan, proposed by Malaysia's Star Cruises, calls for the development of an area of two million square metres north of the Bund, the waterfront along the Huangpu river.
It would include a 1,200-metre long pier and water eight metres deep, where four to six liners could dock at the same time, the Sanlian Shenghuo magazine said in its latest issue.
If the city government approves the plan and construction begins this year, the facility could be ready by 2008.
Currently, Shanghai trails far behind Hong Kong and Singapore in the cruise business, with 47,000 visitors entering the city from such vessels in 2001, compared with 2.4 million in Hong Kong. Sars has had a dramatic impact on the regional cruise business, but Hong Kong has looked into expanding its capacity in the past.
In the past, critics have said Hong Kong lacked sufficient cruise berth capacity. About three years ago, Cheung Kong's plan to build a second cruise ship terminal in the residential district of North Point was knocked back following strong criticism from local residents, environmentalists and rival cruise terminal operator Wharf.