Sudipta Dev – Dubai
Cruise Arabia is a two year old alliance among Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Oman’s ministry of tourism, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, Qatar Tourism Authority and Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority. A significant milestone for Cruise Arabia has been the recent ruling regarding multiple entry tourist visa. “We had a challenge in the past for visas, specially for Indians, now we have succeeded after many years to have specific cruise traveller visas which opens the door to Indian passengers to take cruises. This is a month long valid multiple entry visa for US$ 50. This new ruling will open up markets like India, China, South Africa, Russia and CIS, and Brazil. With the new ruling, out of the five markets with the new visa, our priority is India and China,” said Hamad M Bin Mejren, senior VP, Dubai Events & Convention Bureau, Dubai Corporation for Tourism & Commerce Marketing. While the traditional source markets are western Europe and North America, Cruise Arabia also focuses on regional markets like GCC and the UAE.
DTCM is expecting one million cruise passengers by 2020, but after the new ruling the numbers could be more. “Immediately after announcement we went on a roadshow to India and China. We are planning for another roadshow in India in August, ahead of the season. We are expecting Indian and Chinese cruise travellers to grow substantially,” he stated.
Cruise Arabia has been created as an alliance to have one voice and to lobby and share best practices to enhance cruise tourism in the region. “Our Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman are one of the leading winter cruise destinations in the world. Dubai is a hub because of our infrastructure. Accessibility is the main factor for cruise lines to choose Dubai as the hub of the region,” mentioned Mejren.
Dubai Tourism has been promoting cruise tourism since the late 90s. The first cruise terminal was built in 2001, that year there was less than 7000 cruise passengers. The second cruise terminal was built in 2010 and the third in December last year. “Last year it was 358,000 cruise passengers. This year we expect 425,000 cruise passengers. Next year will see five cruise lines with seven ships, starting their weekly itineraries from Dubai and ending in Dubai,” informed Mejren, adding that cruising is an economic way of seeing up to five to six destinations in the region. Prices start per person at about US $ 450.