A cruise liner docks at Sanya's Phoenix Island. [Photo/China Daily]

BEIJING - The value-added output of China's marine tourism sector hit 1.087 trillion yuan (about $163 billion) in 2015, registering 11.4 percent growth year-on-year, according to a government report.

"Tourism has become an important growth point driving marine economic development," according to the report, which was jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission and the State Oceanic Administration.

Cruises were popular among tourists, with more than 2.48 million trips aboard cruise ships in 2015, a 44 percent surge compared with the previous year, the report said.

The marine fishery and shipbuilding industry also grew steadily last year with value-added output of 435.2 billion yuan and 144.1 billion yuan.

Marine oil and gas industry value-added output stood at 93.9 billion yuan, a 2 percent decrease year-on-year, due to international crude oil prices, it said.