(Yicai Global) August 6 -- China will ramp up its policy support for Shanghai, the nation's first  pilot zone for cruise tourism, to attract more international partners  and visitors. The eastern city's cruise port will kick off China's first  duty-free store that is open for people entering the country.

The Ministry of Culture  and Tourism gave the green light to the city to deepen collaboration  with foreign firms to expand the tourism sector in the region,  Liberation Daily reported today. The 1,700-square meter tax-free store  will be opened during the second China International Import Expo in  November.

Global cruise companies  such as US Carnival, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise  Line Holdings, Swiss Mediterranean Shipping and Malaysia's Genting Group  already operate cruises that depart from Shanghai. The turnover of  tax-free shops at the Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal  reached about CNY120 million (USD17.1 million) each year in the past two years. 

Editor: Emmi Laine