Taiwan and the world’s second largest cruise line company will jointly build an international cruise line terminal in Magong City on the outlying island of Penghu.
Transportation minister Yeh Kuang-shih explained on Thursday.
"We have already signed an agreement with the second largest cruise line in the world, Royal Caribbean International (RCI), to build a cruise line terminal in Magong," said Yeh. "RCI plans to make the terminal into an international cruise home port. Once it’s completed, it will have cruise liners coming regularly to Magong," he said.
Yeh said that as an island country, Taiwan is seen as an important docking station for many international cruise liners, especially in light of improved cross-strait relations. He said Taiwan has all the advantages for developing its cruise liner tourism.
The total number of cruise passengers visiting Taiwan last year reached more than 300,000. It is estimated that that number could rise to over 500,000 this year.
The terminal is slated for completion in April 2016.