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Grand Korea Leisure Co considering shipboard casino operations
Casino operator Grand Korea Leisure Co Ltd plans to move into the cruise ship business.
The South Korean-based casino operator is an affiliate of the Korea Tourism Organization and runs three foreigners-only casinos in South Korea.
It has instructed a consulting firm to draw up a feasibility study for operating foreigners-only casinos on cruise ships.
"We’ll consider various options, such as operating casinos on foreign cruise lines’ ships or directly setting up cruise lines," the company said.
The feasibility study could last six months and the business plan would primarily target high spending Chinese cruise passengers.
The South Korean government recently passed two bills aimed at boosting cruise tourism, offering tax breaks to cruise tour operators and allowing Korean-owned vessels to have casinos for foreign tourists.
The new laws take effect in July 2015.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said 1.05 million visitors came to South Korea on cruise ships in 2014, of which 89% were Chinese tourists.
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