The Haikou Tourism Development Commission of China recently bared plans to welcome Vietnamese and Philippine visitors.
The Hainan province-based agency announced that it was collaborating with Diamond Cruise International Co. to bring in Southeast Asian tourists through its premiere cruise ship, ‘Glory Sea.’ The initial voyage would set sail from Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay on 25 December 2017, taking full advantage of the Christmas holiday.
The new ‘Glory Sea’ offerings, which run until May 2018, include two-night itineraries to Ha Long Bay, two-night sailings in Da Nang, three-night journeys to Ha Noi, and four-night voyages to Nha Trang. Beyond Vietnam, Diamond Cruise International Co. executives look forward to adding five-night visits in Boracay as well as Manila in the Philippines.
The new cruise routes have another goal besides attracting tourists from Southeast Asia to Haikou, called ‘Coconut City’ because of its coconut-filled tropical beaches and lush natural environment: they will also permit Chinese tourists to experience the culture and history of Vietnam and the Philippines.
“We work hard to promote better communication and connections with China’s neighbouring countries and regions, and to provide more options for both inbound and outbound tourists along short-distance leisure routes,” said Delin Wen, Haikou Tourism Development Commission researcher. “We believe that the new travel opportunities brought by ‘Glory Sea’ offer more opportunities for valuable cultural exchange, as well as lots of excitement and fun for tourists.”
China-based Diamond Cruise International Co. provides world-class cruise services and pushes the envelope of what cruise ships can do. During its press conference to launch these new routes, company executives were optimistic that the initiative would help them expand the cruise vacationing market in Hainan Province and its neighbours.