To promote the high-quality development of the cruise economy in Hongkou District, build a high-end cruise hub port and a world-class waterfront area with international influence, attract cruise industry headquarters, drive the expansion of the cruise industry chain and the aggregation of high-value resources, and accelerate the realization of the strategic goal of “Shanghai’s North Bund and the Golden Triangle of the Huangpu River,” the following recommendations are hereby proposed.
I. Eligible Entities
These guidelines apply to cruise-related enterprises and functional institutions legally established within Hongkou District that meet the relevant criteria, as well as enterprises and functional institutions organizing major cruise events in Hongkou District.
II. Support Funds
Support funds are drawn from the Hongkou District Special Fund for the Development of the Shipping Services Industry. These funds are primarily intended to support the high-quality development of Hongkou District’s cruise economy, foster local cruise operators, and attract the clustering of domestic and foreign-funded cruise enterprises and internationally influential functional institutions.
III. Support Measures
(1) Support for the Development of Cruise Ship Headquarters Economy
1. Investment Incentives
Newly introduced cruise (or passenger) ship headquarters-type enterprises, upon approval, may be eligible for an investment incentive of up to 2 million yuan based on their paid-in registered capital.
2. Office Space Rental Subsidies
For newly introduced cruise (tourism) headquarters enterprises leasing office space for their own use, a rent subsidy of up to 3 million yuan per year may be provided based on the actual leased area, for a period not exceeding three years.
3. Talent Support
For senior management personnel of newly introduced cruise ship headquarters enterprises, upon verification, a relocation allowance of up to 200,000 yuan per person may be granted. If such personnel purchase their own housing in Shanghai, upon verification, a home purchase subsidy of up to 500,000 yuan per person may be granted. The home purchase subsidy and the relocation allowance are subject to the higher amount, but cannot be claimed simultaneously.
Senior managers and key professional staff of newly introduced cruise (or tourism) headquarters enterprises, upon verification, will be granted a talent incentive.
For mid-to-senior level managers and key professional staff of newly introduced cruise (tourism) headquarters enterprises who rent housing for personal use, upon verification, a monthly subsidy of up to 3,000 yuan per person may be provided, generally for a period not exceeding three years.
For high-end talent at newly introduced cruise (tourism) headquarters enterprises, one-stop services will be provided regarding visa processing, talent recruitment, employment permits, qualification certification, residence permit points, and applications for talent apartments. For talent meeting the criteria for applying for municipal household registration and talent residence permits, a “green channel” will be established to provide convenient access to medical care, school enrollment for children, and other services.
(2) Building a High-End Cruise Hub Port
1. Inaugural Voyage Incentives
Cruise lines that establish homeport or port-of-call routes using high-end cruise ships at the Shanghai Port International Passenger Terminal for the first time will be granted a certain reward upon approval.
2. Voyage Incentives
(1) Port of Call
Cruise ships operated by the same cruise line that use the Shanghai Port International Passenger Terminal as a port of call and make multiple stops there for the first time over two consecutive years will be granted a certain incentive upon verification.
(2) Port of Departure or Home Port
Cruise lines that use the Shanghai Port International Passenger Terminal as their port of departure or home port and achieve a specified number of voyages for two consecutive years for the first time will be granted a certain reward upon verification.
(3) Enhancing Cruise Support Services
1. Cruise Ship Design
Enterprises newly introduced to Shanghai that specialize in cruise ship concept design, hull design, cabin space design, marine engineering design, and artistic design may, upon verification, receive an investment incentive of up to 2 million yuan based on their paid-in registered capital.
Cruise (or leisure) ship design enterprises or institutions established in Hongkou District, upon verification, may receive a subsidy of up to 500,000 yuan based on their design achievements.
High-level design personnel at newly introduced cruise (tourism) design enterprises or institutions will be eligible for talent support policies comparable to those for headquarters-type enterprises.
2. Cruise Ship Services
(1) Crew and Cabin Crew Services
Cruise companies that collaborate with vocational education institutions within the district to commission the training of cruise service personnel and subsequently hire them under contract may, upon approval, receive an annual reward of up to 100,000 yuan based on the number of personnel hired.
Newly introduced crew management and dispatch enterprises or institutions that commission training institutions within the zone to complete relevant crew vocational skills training may, upon verification, receive an annual subsidy of up to 100,000 yuan based on the number of trainees.
(2) Innovation Services
Support will be provided to cruise industry-related enterprises or functional institutions that receive municipal-level or higher innovation project awards.
(IV) Optimizing the Cruise Industry Development Ecosystem
1. Newly introduced functional institutions related to cruise ships (or pleasure craft) may, upon verification, receive an investment incentive of up to 1.5 million yuan. For those leasing office space for their own use, a rent subsidy of up to 2 million yuan per year may be provided based on the actual leased area, for a period not exceeding three years.
2. Cruise-related enterprises and functional institutions that host forums, exhibitions, or launch ceremonies in Hongkou that have a certain level of influence and contribute to the development of the district’s cruise industry may receive a subsidy of up to 1 million yuan.
3. Cruise-related enterprises and functional institutions that release authoritative reports on the cruise industry with significant influence in Hongkou may be granted a certain reward upon approval.
4. For overseas promotional activities conducted by cruise (or leisure cruise) companies to promote the establishment of port-of-call routes in North Bund, a subsidy will be provided based on the actual costs incurred.
(V) Other
For particularly significant national strategic cruise (tourism) headquarters projects, a “case-by-case” funding subsidy or incentive policy may be adopted.
IV. Supplementary Provisions
The District Investment Promotion Office (District Shipping Services Office) shall be responsible for the interpretation of these provisions. These guidelines shall take effect on June 26, 2023, and remain valid until December 31, 2027. Projects undertaken between January 1, 2023, and the effective date of these guidelines shall be subject to these guidelines upon approval.
