The Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism has approved the launch of the country’s first duty free shop at cruise arrivals at Shanghai Port, in a move expected to boost cruise tourism in the region.

The 1,700sqm business area will officially open during the China International Import Expo in November this year, according to Liberation Daily, the official daily newspaper of the Shanghai Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Shanghai has also been given the green light to establish a demonstration zone for cruise tourism, allowing it become a hub for the industry.

Shanghai Port’s cruise business is reportedly accounting for 63% of the national cruise market, having topped the list in Asia for three consecutive years.

The annual turnover of duty-free shops at the port comes at 120 million yuan ($17m) per year, according to the report.