SHANGHAI: China will today start work on the compilation of an industry standard for its cruise sector and a unified national tourism service standard for its international cruise ports, said an industry official yesterday.

The study on the standard, initiated by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and the China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association (CCYIA), is likely to be completed by October, said Zheng Weihang, deputy president of CCYIA.

According to Zheng, the cruise tourism sector may see skyrocketing growth over the next three years, as more and more Chinese tourists opt to travel by cruise ships for leisure and vacations.