Carnival Corp’s Italian cruise line Costa Cruises plans to open an office in Taiwan this month.
It will also launch cruises from Keelung in northern Taiwan next year, according to Costa Cruises senior marketing manager Lin Keng-yu.
Lin said the company has seen strong demand from the local market after more than 2,000 Taiwanese took cruises from the South Korean port of Busan this summer.
He said up to eight sailings will depart from Keelung next summer.
Costa will become the third international cruise line to open in Taiwan after Princess Cruises and Star Cruises.
Taiwan is the third largest source of cruise passengers in Asia, behind China and Singapore, according to data from Cruise Lines International Association.
