Brussels, 08/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a contract with Costa Crociere, Italy's leading tourism group, for a direct loan of €550m. The operation will support the five-year plan to develop the Costa Crociere fleet, which plans to introduce five new ships by 2012, with aggregate investment of €2.4bn. In a press release, the EIB states that, in granting this loan, it recognises the importance of boosting tourist flows, “with particular emphasis...