HONG KONG: The first regular ship cruises between the mainland and Taiwan will start next year and the Hong Kong tourism industry expects to reap dividends.

Under terms of the supplement on the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) signed in May, cross-Straits voyages via Hong Kong to Taiwan are open to mainland travelers holding valid exit and entry permits.

According to the China National Tourism Administration, mainland tourists have made more than 350,000 trips to Taiwan since travel restrictions were lifted last year.

There is no direct regular cruise service between the mainland and Taiwan at present. Costa Crociere will be the first company to launch cross-Straits itineraries with Hong Kong as its home port.

"It's a huge potential. Taiwan will be the next popular travel destination for mainland tourists," said Massimo Brancaleoni, vice president of the company's Pacific Asia Operations (PAO).

He expects to carry more than 50,000 mainland tourists on 15 cruises to Taiwan every year.

The first trip sails on January 31, 2010. Six cruises will be scheduled in January and February, with the remaining nine in May and June.

The price per person ranges from $549 to $2,999. Travelers will sail from Hong Kong for Keelung. They will go ashore for side trips to Taipei and Tai Chung over five days and four nights.

Each cruise can carry a maximum of 1,680 passengers. Leo Liu, general manager of Costa Crociere PAO, predicted mainland travelers will constitute 80 percent of the passengers on board. The remaining 20 percent he expects will come from Hong Kong.

The new travel link is good news to the ailing Hong Kong tourism industry.

Anthony Lau, Hong Kong Tourism Board's (HKTB) executive director, believes this will establish the city as the Asian cruise hub.

"Hong Kong is well-placed with superb tourism and infrastructure," he said. "The cross-Straits cruise is an important breakthrough and a milestone development for the cruise industry."

He believes the CEPA arrangement will attract more cruise companies to introduce Taiwan itineraries through Hong Kong.

According to the HKTB, 500,000 mainland tourists visited Hong Kong aboard cruise ships last year, 10 percent more than in 2007.

Lau expected that more mainland tourists will stay to look around Hong Kong and spend money.

(HK Edition 07/17/2009 page2)