After welcoming the newly launched Costa Europa to its shores, Taiwan is hoping to attract increasing numbers of overnight cruise itineraries.

Welcoming the newly launched vessel to Kaohsiung Harbor today, Tony Wu, director of the Tourism Bureau's Tourist Service Center, told Focus Taiwan that he hopes more cruise operators will moor up in the dock.

Mr Wu said it is a key ambition for Taiwan to bring in cruise liners who will stay for longer periods of time and not sail out within one day.

His comments come as over 300 passengers were greeted at the harbour by a brigade of local drummers.

Mr Wu told the news provider that Taiwan is keen to pull out all the stops in attracting cruise tourism and has marketed itself with operators on a global scale.

Mooring discounts have even been offered to cruise companies who take the Taiwan experience.

Cruising holidaymakers can provide a welcome boost to local communities and with Carnival cruises' chairman Micky Arison predicting that the industry will double over the next decade, many destinations will be hoping to get in on the boom.

Have you been on a cruise to Taiwan? Do you feel like a day is long enough at such port calls?