Genting to team with Chinese partner for domestic cruises from Hainan

This would support the development of a free trade, pilot cruise tourism zone on the Island.

Genting Hong Kong had signaled the opening from Hainan in reporting first-half earnings last week.

Supporting China's efforts to rebuild its tourism sector

'We are keen to support the Chinese government’s efforts in rebuilding its travel and tourism sector by providing a safe and carefree vacation option for consumers,' said Kent Zhu, president, Genting Cruise Lines, 'Genting Cruise Lines has enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with China, and especially in Hainan Island. The establishment of a joint venture company in Sanya demonstrates our commitment and determination to further drive the development of cruise tourism in Hainan.'

Wu Haifeng, vice mayor of the Sanya Municipal People’s Government and president of Sanya CBD Administration, noted Genting Hong Kong was the first cruise company to homeport in the city and with the longest deployment period and the highest number of sailings to date.

Last year, Hainan was approved by China’s Ministry of Transport to launch pilot cruises to nowhere for Chinese-funded cruise ships flying flags of convenience.

To further boost tourism and reinforce the positioning of the Hainan Free Trade Port, the Hainan government earlier this year announced a pilot plan for this type of service.

Benefits from Explorer Dream experience in Taiwan

Noting that Dream Cruises' Explorer Dream resumed operations from Taiwan in July, offering domestic cruises for Taiwanese, Zhu called this a 'testament to the efficacy of the company’s enhanced health and safety measures,' adding that the ship had been operating for over a month 'without any incident and garnered high scores in terms of passenger satisfaction.'

This helped Genting gain 'invaluable experience for our upcoming deployments,' Zhu said. 'It is our goal to provide our guests in mainland China with the same opportunity to enjoy a much-deserved vacation experience marked by Dream Cruises’ reputation for unbeatable quality, hospitality and safety.'

Add Seatrade Cruise News to your Google News feed.