KUALA LUMPUR (April 11): Singapore-listed Genting Hong Kong Ltd and China Merchants Shekou Holdings have partnered to develop Tai Zi Bay in Shekou into an international homeport to accelerate the Chinese cruise industry’s growth.

Genting Hong Kong, which is also listed in Hong Kong, said it signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement woth China Merchants that will see its liner SuperStar Virgo anchoring at Tai Zi Bay in Shenzhen city as its homeport, beginning November this year.

It will be the first international cruise line to choose China’s only cruise port, Tai Zi Bay in Shenzhen, as its homeport, Genting Hong Kong said in a statement.

Its chairman and chief executive officer Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay said Genting Hong Kong was a pioneer in the cruise industry in China for over 20 years ago.

“Genting Hong Kong has, over the years, developed Sanya, Haikou, Shanghai, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Shenzhen homeports, not to mention the evergreen homeports of Hong Kong and Taipei.

“(Which) makes us the cruise company with the longest history and with the most homeports in Greater China. Having observed the great potential of Shenzhen from as early as 2002, we operated cruises to Vietnam from the old Shekou Port.

“We are pleased to see the development of Tai Zi Bay and even happier to ink a strategic alliance with China Merchant Group today, to join hands in developing cruise tourism in China,” he said.

Genting Hong Kong said cruising, which has become popular in China, saw more than 1.2 million Chinese travelling on cruises in 2015, with the number expected to increase to 4.5 million in five years.

In response to the increasing demand in the market and to help develop the cruise industry in the country, Genting Hong Kong is strengthening its strategic deployment plan in Southern China.

It would offer a wide range of products optimised for Chinese travelers by providing them with easy access to cruises, right from their doorstep.

According to China Merchants chairman Li Jianhong, Tai Zi Bay Cruise Terminal is capable of accommodating 220,000-tonne cruise liners that would become an important waterway portal for Shenzhen.

He said it would also improve the city’s international standing, as a modern and world-class metropolis.

Li added that China Merchants, which was strong in finance, property, logistics and trading, was poised to enhance its international reputation through the development of high-end cruise industry ecosystems.

The collaboration with Genting Hong Kong would enable the expansion in cruise industry construction and operation, including cruise terminal construction and management, fleet development, maintenance and repair, he said.