Qingdao Cruise Terminal eyes 60 calls in 2016Qingdao Cruise Terminal eyes 60 calls in 2016

Qingdao Cruise Terminal, which opened in May 2015, received 38 calls last year and 32,188 inbound and outbound passengers, according to the local tourism board.

Since its opening, the terminal has welcomed one cruise ship every six days on average, with a peak of three ships calling at the same time on seven ocassions and four ships calling at the same time once.

According to projections made by the tourism board, the growing cruise market will eventually see Qingdao Cruise Terminal handle up to 1.5m passengers annually.

The facilities at the terminal will also be gradually developed to include a wider suite of entertainment and retail shops to cater to the increasing number of tourists.

The anticipated boom for Qingdao Cruise Terminal is partly attributed to its close proximity to South Korea and Japan.