Hong Kong's tourism sector welcomed the National Immigration Administration’s decision to allow foreign tourist groups to enter the Chinese mainland visa-free when they join cruise tours calling at the country’s ports.

“The latest move of a visa-free entry policy for foreign tourist groups traveling to some Chinese mainland cities by cruise ships is a shot in the arm for Hong Kong’s tourism industry,” said Perry Yiu Pak-leung, the lawmaker representing the tourism constituency.

The city should also capitalize on its advantages as an international city and play a pivotal role in attracting more overseas visitors to Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland

Hong Kong is well-positioned to serve as Asia’s cruise center given its geographical advantages, and many international cruise companies that attach great importance to the Chinese mainland market hope to use Hong Kong as a springboard to enter more mainland cities, Yiu told China Daily.

READ MORE: HKSAR govt welcomes new visa-free policy for cruise ship tour groups

Attracting more international cruise ships to choose Hong Kong as a base and stop off in the city will enrich travel choices for residents in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and attract more domestic and overseas tourists, he said, adding that it is important to enhance cooperation among Bay Area cities.

Yiu suggests that Hong Kong enhance publicity and promotion to work with more international cruise companies and introduce measures to attract them to use Hong Kong as a base.

The city should also capitalize on its advantages as an international city and play a pivotal role in attracting more overseas visitors to Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, he said.

The CSTB said it will continue to enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness as Asia’s cruise hub through various measures, and seize the opportunities brought about by the development of the country’s cruise industry

A spokesperson for the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) said in a government statement on Wednesday: “As Asia’s cruise hub, Hong Kong attracts visitors from around the world for cruise travel. They will stay in Hong Kong before or after their voyages to experience the city’s tourism offerings and bring economic benefits to the city.”

READ MORE: China allows visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups via cruise ships

The spokesperson added: “The new policy measures will attract international cruise lines to develop more cruise itineraries involving mainland ports and Hong Kong, leveraging our role as a core demonstration zone for multidestination tourism and promoting the development of Hong Kong’s cruise industry.”

The CSTB said it will continue to enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness as Asia’s cruise hub through various measures, and seize the opportunities brought about by the development of the country’s cruise industry.

The National Immigration Administration earlier announced that overseas tourists can enter the Chinese mainland visa-free for up to 15 days when they are taking cruise trips that call at the mainland’s 13 visa-free entry ports and seven visa-free transit ports. The tour group must accompany the same cruise ship to the next port until the cruise ship leaves the country.

Yang Maoyu contributed to this story.