Dubai: Dubai's cruise tourism recorded 390,000 cruise passengers visiting the emirate aboard 103 ships last year, according to the latest statistics provided by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) — the emirate's tourism regulatory body.
Khalid Ahmad Bin Sul-ayem, DTCM Director-General, told representatives of tourism companies and government departments that this achievement was made possible by the marketing initiatives carried out by DTCM, in addition to its participation in a number of conferences and exhibitions.
Cruise tourism is gaining prominance in the emirate's growing tourism sector - a major contributor to its economy.
Bin Sulayem also attributed this success to steps taken to modernise the infrastructure, such as building new ship berths for cruise ships early last year, and providing all services and facilities required by passengers and ships.
This success was also due to the fruitful cooperation of the government departments and authorities with the tourist group, he said.
Bin Sulayem said it is expected that the number of passengers will be even higher in the coming seasons. "Many new global companies will be operating cruises that will be launched from Dubai to the region's ports.
Increased capacity
"Other companies are also studying the possibility of setting up their headquarters in Dubai to organise tourist voyages to the region's ports," said Bin Sulayem.
He was speaking at a metting with representatives of cruise operators in Dubai last Thursday.
From 2005 to 2010, Dubai saw a steady increase in passengers.
In 2009, 87 ships brought 262,740 passengers.
This year it is expected that the number will increase to 120 ships bringing 425,000 passengers.
The department also forecasts that by 2015 the number will increase to 165 ships and 625,000 passengers.
Adnan Aridi of Alpha Tours said: "Alpha Tours handled more than 100,000 cruise passengers in 2010, an increase of more than 12 per cent over the year before. This increase has been consistent for the past four years and is expected to rise during the 2011-2012 season.
"This is due to several factors to name a few: the plans of the existing cruise lines operating in the region to increase capacity by adding new ships or replacing existing ones and the confirmed plans of new and aggressive operators to start considering the UAE as a hub in the region to operate cruises within the Gulf.
"These companies are due to start operating by this autumn."
Sondre Ajer, General Manager of Wilhelmsen Ship Services, praised DTCM's cooperation with the public and private sectors, which made Dubai a global destination for marine tourism.
"In the past six months, more than 65 per cent of the ships we handle have been booked for the next tourism season.
"This affirms Dubai's position as a tourism destination in various parts of the world," Ajer said.
Peter Payet, Senior Vice President of Arabian Adventures, said, "The DTCM, has accomplished much in assisting us to secure more business and bring more tourists into the emirate. It has been a particularly good year for Arabian Adventures in 2010 and during the last year, our cruise services unit benefited from DTCM's support, as well as from the ports and customs authorities of Dubai."
Dubai is developing a maritime cluster at Port Rashid, once Dubai's main trading harbour, that hosts Dubai Cruise Terminal .
Making waves
- 87: ships carried 262,740 passengers from 2005-10
- 120: ships in 2011 to carry 425,000 passengers
