Costa Crociere to launch Regular Taiwan Cruises

Costa Crociere (Costa Cruises), one of Italy’s largest tourism groups, is to launch regular Taiwan cruises itineraries for mainland tour groups, offering a total of 15 cruises throughout the year.

The Taiwan cruise itinerary will depart from Hong Kong aboard the Costa Classica to the Taiwan cities of Taipei, Keelung and Taichung.

Costa Cruises will launch its regular Taiwan itinerary on January 31st, 2010. This milestone development for the Chinese cruise industry follows shortly after Costa Cruises became the first industry leader to operate two ships in China simultaneously, further driving the rapid development of China’s modern cruise industry.

Following the success of the product marketed in China for four years, Costa Cruises has strengthened its presence in China. In July and August, Costa Classica and Costa Allegra are offering a Japan - Korea route at the same time, home-ported in Shanghai and Tianjin, respectively.

The introduction of regular Taiwan cruise itineraries is a natural holiday product extension for the Italian cruise company. From April to May this year, Costa Cruises facilitated three direct cross-straits voyages for more than 3,500 top sales representatives from Amway, in Mainland China, to visit Taiwan.

“Two months after the successful completion of Amway’s chartered cruise to Taiwan, I am extremely delighted to open another brilliant chapter of Costa’s splendid history in China with the introduction of China’s first regular Taiwan cruise itineraries for Mainland tour groups,” said Massimo Brancaleoni, Vice President of Costa Crociere Pacific Asia Operations. “With the broadening of the cross-straits travel policy, Taiwan will be the next charming holiday destination hot-spot for Chinese tourists. Our regular Taiwan cruise itineraries will allow Costa’s strong customer base in Asia and mainland China the unique opportunity to enjoy a truly wonderful and memorable journey on the sea, the Italian-style, while discovering the splendors of Taiwan’s rich natural, gastronomical and shopping offerings. We will stand firmly on our commitment to providing Chinese tourists with even more new cruise products and services in the future. The introduction of the new regular Taiwan cruise itineraries clearly exemplifies our confidence in China and ambitions to continue to lead in this exciting and dynamic market.”

Under Supplement VI to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), cross-straits trips will be open to Mainland tour groups who hold valid exit and entry permits for traveling to and from Taiwan and travel endorsements, to route through Hong Kong.

Costa Cruises’ regular Taiwan cruise itinerary will depart from Hong Kong during the months of January, February, May and June. The 5-day/4–night cruise holiday will bring Chinese tourists to Taiwan’s port city of Keelung, with off-board day trips to Taipei and Tai Chung.

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