Twenty-one domestic yacht clubs set up a Yacht Club Alliance Thursday in Haikou, Hainan Province, in a bid to push forward the development of the yachting industry.

The launching ceremony was part of a one-and-half-day Forum of Yachting Economy, which started on March 19 in Haikou.

Qian Yongchang, director from China Communications and Transportation Association, said the forum provides an opportunity for the yacht clubs all over the country to gather together. China has got 55 yacht clubs in its coastal regions.

Yet without clear regulations and professional trainings, the development of the yacht industry is at its bottleneck.

Yachting is still a luxury for many Chinese citizens. Those who owned yachts are mostly companies’ bosses. But with the growth of average income, more families will able to afford yachts. “The yachting industry in China is in its nascent stage, it needs a good start,” said Qian.

The Yacht Club Alliance will be a platform for the communication between the governments and yacht owners, said Liu Fusheng, deputy director of the country’s Maritime Safety Administration.

The ceremony was celebrated with more than 600 participants, including Mike Moore, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Zhang Faqiang, vice chairman of the Chinese Olympic Committee.