The JV, named the MSC Cruises Travel Agency (Shanghai) Company, is the first joint venture for cruises approved by the Chinese National Tourism Administration. It will be mainly engaged in the marketing of domestic and outbound travel, cruise ticketing and other tourist products.
Currently, there are 23 cruise routes that base Shanghai as a home port, and the figure is expected to double next year, according to Li Haihu, chairman of Shanghai International Port.
The JV is part of a partnership agreement the two sides signed in April which aims to jointly tap the burgeoning cruise market.