Cruise Tourism is rising within the Arabian Gulf, despite the turmoil and instability of the wider region. Back in 2009 around 100 cruise ships visited the Dubai Cruise Terminal accounting for some 260,000 passengers. In successive years the numbers rose as follows:
- 2010: 120 Cruise ships with 325,000 passengers.
- 2011: 135 Cruise ships with 375,000 passengers.
- 2012: 150 Cruise ships with 425,000 passengers.
Over the coming years, DTCM expects these figures to increase as follows:
Dubai Cruise Terminal has become the default Cruise Ship Hub for the Arabian Gulf region for good reason, as the service levels and facilitation of Cruise Lines is exceptionally high. Expansion plans are in the making too, as the new terminal (3 times the size of the current one) is due to open in the next few month. Later phases of the project even include a Cable Car connecting the city with the Cruise Terminal.- 2013: 165 Cruise ships with 475,000 passengers.
- 2014: 180 Cruise ships with 525,000 passengers.
- 2015: 195 Cruise ships with 575,000 passengers.
Part of the success of the Dubai Cruise Terminal is the quality of the services provided by the supporting partners to the Cruise Terminal and the Cruise Lines that frequent the region.
This year the Partner Appreciation Ceremony held by DTCM (Department of Tourism, Commerce and Marketing) recognized the Cruise Agent Gulf Ventures (part of the dnata group) with an award for its quality of services. Mr. Jasem Zaiton (pictured above) the Cruise Manager of Gulf Ventures gracefully accepted the award for 2013.
No doubt in the coming year we will hear more about Dubai and the growth of Cruising in the Arabian Gulf. The only potential barrier to success being the perceived stability of the received.
