STORY: North China's Tianjin embraces booming cruise tourism
SHOOTING TIME: April 7, 2024
DATELINE: April 8, 2024
LENGTH: 0:01:39
LOCATION: TIANJIN, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the cruise ship
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LIU YANG, Tianjin Dongjiang border inspection station
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHAO JINGWEN, Tianjin branch of Bank of China
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LIU ZINAN, Chairman of Royal Caribbean Cruises

STORYLINE:

North China's Tianjin Municipality has embraced booming cruise tourism since international cruise ship transport to and from ports of China was fully resumed in September 2023.

Cruise ship Serenade of the Seas docked at Tianjin International Cruise Home Port on Sunday morning, with over 1,800 tourists from 50 countries and regions aboard.

The 275-day cruise on the ship is the longest round-the-world route at present, and Tianjin is its only stop in the Chinese mainland.

To aid the growth of cruise tourism, the city has beefed up efforts to provide effective and convenient services to enhance visitors' travel experience.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LIU YANG, Tianjin Dongjiang border inspection station
"We have streamlined passenger clearance procedures by completing passengers' necessary formalities for port entry in advance, which ensures they can have a rapid customs clearance upon arrival."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHAO JINGWEN, Tianjin branch of Bank of China
"First, we have provided customers with a cash withdrawal service via ATM and launched a bilingual service in the scanning area, where we can assist customers in completing the registration on the online payment platforms, such as WeChat and Alipay to help customers enjoy a more convenient payment service."

Tianjin International Cruise Home Port has welcomed 22 cruise ships and seen 68,000 tourist visits so far this year, and it is estimated to receive 100 cruise ships and 300,000 inbound and outbound tourist visits this year.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): LIU ZINAN, Chairman of Royal Caribbean Cruises
"Chinese market is potentially the largest tourist market for the world cruise tourism, and China is also capable of becoming the largest inbound destination for cruise ships. Its potential is enormous, there is no doubt about it."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tianjin, China.
(XHTV)