Middle East cruise sector rides new wave
The Middle East’s cruise sector will be out in force at this year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 5-8.
The region’s cruise sector had been in decline since the global downturn and the subsequent effects of the Arab Spring.
However with significant infrastructure investment, easing visa regulations and creative marketing, the cruise sector is bouncing-back, according to show organiser Reed Travel Exhibitions.
One challenge that the region faced was the lack of ports of call and the location of cruise facilities – most of the berths for cruise vessels were located within commercial shipping ports, which was not particularly conducive for leisure visitors.
In response, Mina Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi is currently undergoing major redevelopment creating a dedicated cruise terminal.
Dubai has been upgrading Port Rashid to accommodate seven vessels simultaneously, up from the current five, as part of its strategy to attract 450,000 cruise tourists by 2016.
Bahrain is restarting US$80 million worth of mixed-use projects at the Muharraq coastal site and King Fasial Corniche seafront. New developments are also going ahead in Oman and Aquba, Jordan.
GCC countries, through bilateral agreements with other nations, have allowed more visitors to apply for visa on arrival and the UAE is believed to be considering a new multi-entry cruise visa.
Ian Jarrett
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