China is set to launch a direct cruise liner service to Okinawa, Japan, beginning next month. The move is expected to support the growth of China's emerging cruise travel industry, which is expected to become the largest in Asia in the next four years.

Passenger liner SuperStar Virgo will begin the voyage from Nansha port in China's Guangzhou city to Okinawa and Miyakojima in Japan, and vice versa, on April 17. Star Cruises, the ship owner and manager, said the six-day liner is scheduled to depart every Sunday and return on Fridays.

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Over 17,000 travelers boarded SuperStar Virgo when it was first put into service from Guangzhou to Vietnam in January.

According to Zhu Shaodong, manager of a travel agency based in Guangzhou called GZL, the voyage will lure tourists not only from Guangdong Province, but also on neighboring regions.

The cruise travel industry in China is expected to surge and become the largest market in Asia by 2020, with an expected annual passengers of 4.5 million - a fourfold increase from the current 1 million yearly overseas travelers on cruise liners.

Meanwhile, a Hong Kong-based cruise line company Dream Cruise Co. is also planning to also planning to travel from Guangzhou, China, to Hirara and Naha ports in Japan regularly. Dubbed as Genting Dream, the company's new cruise liner is expected to beginning sailing the new route on April next year. The scheduled trip will leave from Guangzhou, China, and arrive on Hirara Port on Miyako Island every Tuesday and continue to Naha Port on Wednesdays.

TagsCruise Ship, Japan, china, SuperStar Virgo, Star Cruises, Dream Cruise Co., Genting Dream, cruise liner