Costa’s China cruise breakthrough

Thursday, 07 Mar, 2006 0

Costa Cruises is to operate from China with a ship dedicated to the market.

The Italian company claims to be the first international cruise line to be granted a license by the Chinese authorities to operate from the country’s ports.

Costa will have offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai and the 1,000-passenger ship Costa Allegra will run cruises initially from Shanghai. The vessel will undergo a euros 12 million upgrade to appeal to Chinese passengers.

A series of 24 departures have been scheduled, starting on July 3 with a five-day itinerary covering Nagaski in Japan and Cheju in Korea.

The line hopes to attract 55,000 Chinese passengers a year from domestic ports.

Costa’s chairman and chief executive Pier Luigi Foschi said: “We are about to embark on an extremely ambitious and innovative project in international tourism which is also a very complex and exciting challenge.

“At the same time, the growth potential involved may well lead to massive business development with far-reaching implications for the future of our company.

“This project, together with our previously announced new itineraries in the Far East (Singapore) and United Arab Emirates (Dubai), is part of Costa’s strategy of business development and expansion of fleet operational areas in what we believe are emerging and high-growth markets.

“It will be a great thrill to see a Costa Cruises’ ship in the ports of the People’s Republic of China and of many other Asian countries.”

Report by Phil Davies

Phil Davies

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