The
aggressive initiatives of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce
Marketing (DTCM) to promote and market the emirate as ultimate cruise
destination in the region has yielded impressive results with Dubai’s
state-of-the-art cruise terminal playing a host to over 120,205 tourists
in 2007, far more than the projected 105,000.
Mr.
Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, DTCM Executive Director of Dubai Cruise Terminal,
said: “The cruise tourism in Dubai is gaining strength each
passing year and the year 2007 witnessed performance exceeding the
projections. Dubai has emerged as preferred destination of choice
for the global cruise liners. Several new cruise liners started using
Dubai as a regional hub for their operations successfully. This spectacular
performance is a major boost to the growth of regional cruise tourism.”
The
ship-shaped Dubai Cruise Terminal, opened in 2001, measures 3300 square
metres and is able to accommodate two ships simultaneously on a 335-metre
quay. The Dubai Cruise Terminal is the world's first to receive ISO-9002
certification and also the world’s only cruise facility run
by the government tourism body, DTCM.
DTCM
signed an agreement with Cruise operator Costa Crociere. The agreement
marks the creation of a full-fledged partnership between Costa Crociere
and Dubai , providing for joint marketing initiatives in the next
five years promoting both brands worldwide. During the current winter
season 2007-2008, Dubai expects more than 200,000 cruise passengers
to visit the emirate, giving a further boost to the booming tourism
industry.
Dubai
handled 32,000 cruise passenger movements in 2006, up from 23,000
cruise passengers in the previous year. The DTCM has taken up an initiative
to discuss the cruise tourism industry growth and expansion in the
region with the proposed hosting of a meeting of senior officials
of the AGCC cruise ports in Dubai in March.
