Costa Crociere S.p.A will establish the cruise industry’s first wholly-owned foreign enterprise (WOFE) in China. The new company will be located in
“We are proud to be the first cruise company to set up a WOFE in
Mr. Gianni Onorato, President of Costa Crociere S.p.A., added: “As the leading player in the market and an innovative cruise company, we always seek new ways to operate, establish new cruise itineraries, as well as to develop new cruise experiences for our Chinese passengers. In the past six years of our operation in
Being the first international cruise company to enter the Chinese market, Costa has become one of the best recognized, beloved and most popular tourism brands in the country. By October 2011, more than 170,000 Chinese passengers travelled on Costa’s Italian Style inspired cruises.
In 2011, the China Ministry of Transport revised the Approval of Foreign-owned Shipping Company Interim Measures and granted permission to foreign cruise companies operating in China to establish wholly-owned institutions. Once again, Costa becomes the pioneer to receive approval under the new government regulation. Costa’s new WOFE status will have the scope of soliciting passengers, issuing tickets, processing proceeds and payment in RMB.
On November 18, Mr. Gianni Onorato, President of Costa Crociere S.p.A. attended the grand ceremony held jointly with