MSC Cruises Sets Up JV With SIPG In Shanghai

Shanghai International Port (Group) Company and Italian MSC Cruises have set up the MSC Cruises Travel Agency (Shanghai) Company on Shanghai's North Bund.

This is reported to be the first joint venture for cruises, and also the first cruise approved by the Chinese National Tourism Administration after the new Regulations for Travel Agencies were brought into effect in May.

The business of the JV will cover the marketing of domestic and outbound travel, cruise ticketing agents, and tourist products agents. Consulting services related to travel will also be available.

Lu Haihu, the chairman of SIPG, said the cruise industry of Shanghai is developing rapidly now. Since 2006, 23 cruise routes have been based Shanghai as a home port. It is estimated that the number of routes will be doubled in 2010.