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Royal
Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced that the company has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd. (SIPG) at
Shanghai International Passenger Terminal. The memorandum will strengthen the
strategic partnership between the two parties in areas of cruise operations in
port, market promotion, staff training and management experience exchange. This
cooperation will open more gateways to overseas visitors to Expo 2010 Shanghai
and further boost China's cruise market.
SIPG's interests include the development of the international cruise terminal
with the addition of cruise-relevant retail outlets, market promotion, services
as a ticket agent, and operating as a one-stop boarding and clearance service
for Royal Caribbean guests. As part of the new commercial partnership, Royal
Caribbean will share its operational experience of managing world-leading
international cruise terminals with new staff training and development, as well
as key activities to improve the operations and logistics, service quality and
infrastructure of Shanghai International Passenger Terminal. Together Royal
Caribbean and SIPG are working to ensure that Shanghai firmly establishes itself
as a world-class port of call.
Statistics show that between February 14, 2009 and October 11, 2009, passenger
volume has grown by 258 percent year-on-year at Shanghai Port. Outbound/inbound
passengers and voyage numbers both hit record highs at Shanghai Port during that
period. It is forecast that the number of international cruise passengers will
reach 600,000 at Chinese sea ports in 2010.
"Royal
Caribbean enters China at a crucial time when the industry is undergoing a
period of rapid growth, in fact developing our business in China is part of our
global expansion plan," said Michael Bayley, senior vice president of
international for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "Such strategic partnerships are
an important and valuable element of our activity to increase penetration in the
Chinese market."
Royal Caribbean has received a lot of interest to its Chinese port-based 2010
itineraries, particularly in the domestic Chinese market with key cruises over
peak holiday times sold out. Cruise options include a five-night sailing onboard
Royal Caribbean International's Legend of the Seas from Shanghai calling at
Kagoshima (Japan), and Busan (Republic Of Korea, South Korea) available in March
2010, and similar cruises throughout May and June 2010 and with the additional
port of call of Fukuoka in Japan also included.
The approaching Expo 2010 Shanghai makes the strategic partnership between SIPG
and Royal Caribbean an important one; the 2010 Expo Shanghai is scheduled to
attract more luxury cruises to Shanghai, along with increased numbers of
international tourists. Moreover, the Expo will also generate a wave of outbound
travel to nearby countries such as Japan and South Korea. |
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150 S. University Dr. Ste E,
Plantation, FL 33324 - USA
Tel: +1 954 452 8800 Fax: +1 954
252 3945
EMail:
sales@cruiseco.com |
