Up to eight Chinese ships will offer cruises to the South China Sea over the next five years, a state-run newspaper said on Thursday, as Beijing continues to promote tourism to the disputed waters.

Sanya International Cruise Development Co. Ltd, a joint venture by COSCO Shipping, China National Travel Service (HK) Group Corp. and China Communications Construction Co. Ltd., will buy between five and eight ships, the official China Daily reported.

It will also build four cruise liner docks in Sanya, a Chinese resort city on the southern island province of Hainan, the paper added.