Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Confidence in the potential of cruise operations in the Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean was highlighted at the Seatrade Middle[ds_preview] East Cruise Convention at the end of October in Dubai. Senior executives from 14 global cruise lines, plus representatives from regional tourism and port authorities addressed both the opportunities and challenges faced in expanding the sector – reinforcing the message that the Arabian Gulf has potential for further growth as new lines commit to winter cruise schedules in the region.

»Dubai has to be admired for its ambitions and achievements in reaching out to the cruise industry«, Seatrade Chairman Chris Hayman said. »From just 17 cruise line calls in 2001, this year the city will host 120 calls and 425,000 passengers.«

In attendance at the event were representatives from TUI Cruises that will start winter hub operations from Dubai in 2012 as well as from MSC, whose ship »MSC Lirica« will have its home port in Dubai during the winter season for the first time. According to Sebastian Ahrens, Managing Director of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the region is a »dream destination« but he said the UAE transit visa situation had to be resolved as it involved additional costs that made the region difficult to sell for volume operators.