The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) is negotiating with some prominent cruise ship operators to position their vessels in the Gulf using Dubai as the regional winter hub and offer packages for the region's destinations, officials confirmed.
If everything works out as planned, the Gulf can see a dedicated cruise ship selling packages as early as next year, said Awadh Al Seghayer, DTCM manager, heritage sites and events, who is also coordinating the cruise activities in Dubai.
This will place Dubai more prominently on the global cruise map.
Oman is developing two dedicated cruise terminals in Muscat and Salalah to help cruise operators position their vessels in the region and increase the Gulf's attractiveness to the global cruise industry as an alternative to the Caribbean which is overcrowded during winter.
"We have had some good responses from U.S. cruise operators and hope to see a vessel positioned in the near future," Al Seghayer said.
"One port, however, doesn't make a destination, a region does, and we want other ports and cities to upgrade their infrastructure so that it helps attract more cruise operators.
"We are also in touch with the Gulf's ports and tourism authorities to improve their infrastructures to match those in the developed countries. Oman, which has a good potential in cruise tourism, has decided to construct two dedicated cruise terminals in Muscat and Salalah."
The Gulf and Indian Ocean offer a quality alternative to cruise customers who are increasingly looking at new destinations to explore.
With one of the most developed infrastructures and good air connectivity, Dubai played a pioneer role in marketing and promoting the region to the global cruise community. As a result, Dubai witnessed a solid growth in the sector.
By the end of 2001, the number of cruise tourists to Dubai crossed 14,000, contributing 5,000 room nights in Dubai's hotels, and bought 8,000 tour packages.
Meanwhile, Bateaux Dubai, owned by Dutco Group, has invested Dh15 million in building a new luxury vessel, Al Minsaf, which will offer lunch, sunset and dinner cruises on Dubai Creek to Dubai-bound tourists and executives, its officials said. It will have a capacity to serve 350 guests at any given time.
The 60-metre boat will be light and covered with transparent glass and will be positioned in the Dubai creek in September.
The vessel is being built in Jaddaf. The hull will be tested in mid-March.
Khalid A. bin Sulayem, DTCM director general, said, "there are all together 15 hospitality vessels operating within Dubai. Al Minsaf, which will be docking at the Dubai Creek, is a significant addition to the luxurious vessels operating within the emirate. This project goes well in line with the Dubai government's vision to position the emirate as a regional cruise and tourism hub."
Gulf News 2003
