Dubai cruise authorities confident on reaching targets

Dubai cruise authorities expect to hit their targets for this year despite a weak euro that is affecting the overall tourism market in the UAE.

The "six-star" Regent Seven Seas Voyager, which arrived in the UAE this weekend, was one of 115 cruise ship calls expected this year.

Through April, Mina Rashid is expected to have received 103 ship calls with more than 370,000 cruise tourists. Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) expects 425,000 cruise tourists this season, rising to 450,000 tourists next year. The 2014-15 cruise season runs through June from October.

Dubai receives cruise tourists from more than 94 countries, with Germany, the UK, Italy, the US and other parts of Europe among the top source markets.

But a significantly weaker euro has prompted DTCM to target new source markets such as China, India, the Arabian Gulf and South America.

“With visitors coming to Dubai from such varied source markets from all over the world, the emirate is insulated from any short-term fluctuations within any specific markets,” said Hamad bin Mejren, the executive director of business tourism at DTCM.

“Cruise lines plan their deployments and commence their advertising and sales of these cruise holidays 12 to 18 months prior to the season commencement, and with cruise tourists, they plan and start booking their cruise holidays well in advance compared to other holiday plans.”

Regent Seven Seas Voyager, which sailed from Singapore on a 20-day trip, was expected to bring about 700 guests. Last month, Cunard Queen Elizabeth brought about 2,000 people on its two-day visit to the UAE.

Itineraries from Dubai includes five, seven and 14-night tours in the Gulf, and that usually takes in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Khorfakkan, Muscat and Bahrain.

Tourists can get visas on arrival in Oman and Bahrain, said Ashok Kumar, the managing director of Dubai-based Cruise Master, which is a representative of 20 cruise companies.

In August, the UAE implemented a multiple-entry visa for all the UAE ports in the cruise itinerary for Dh200.

“The new visa has already had a big impact on some key markets such as India, China, Russia and CIS, South Africa, and Brazil,” Mr bin Mejren said.

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