Having recognized the growing domestic interest for the cruise industry, China has launched construction of its first large luxury cruise liner on Wednesday, within the framework of Southeast China International Shipping Center package.

Namely, the 16.73 billion yuan (2.63 billion U.S. dollars) worth investment endeavor includes implementation of 10 projects led by the construction of a 100,000-ton luxury cruise liner, a cruise terminal and a shipping business center in the city of Xiamen, reports the Xinhua.

“With our own cruise liner, it will be easier to design cruise routes and develop our own tourism products,” Huang Ju pointed out, chief operational officer of Shan Hai Shu Group’s subsidiary that will operate the ship.

The cruise ship, whose designers are yet to be selected from international contenders, will be named “Xiamen, China” and is envisaged to have the capacity of hosting over 2,000 passengers.

The estimated cost of the construction process of the vessel is 3.1 billion yuan, whereas the vessel will be ready to hit the waters in 47 months.

“The cruise industry gives Xiamen’s struggling shipbuilders a good chance to move up the industry value chain by focusing on building luxury cruise ships,” said Chen Yumin, an official with Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd, one of the project developers.