Cruise passengers in Tianjin municipality will be able to shop at tax-free stores by the end of the year, the top tourism official in the port city said on Monday.

The policy is one of many being introduced by the coastal city to boost what the government calls the "aero-amphibious" tourism industry - visitors who travel by caravans, passenger liners and helicopters.

She Qingwen, the top tourism official in Tianjin, said the first group of tax-free stores is expected to be set up this year in Dongjiang, a homeport for passenger liners in Tianjin.