WITH the Middle East’s cruise tourism growth clearly surpassing the global average, Dubai has been selected as the venue for the Seatrade Middle East Cruise Convention. A dedicated event focusing on the Middle East’s rapidly expanding cruise sector, the conference and exhibition event will be held from October 18 to 20, 2011. The Middle East has recorded impressive double-digit growth in cruise tourism in recent years, exceeding the global average of five per cent over the past three years. In Dubai alone, the number of cruise ships visiting has more than quadrupled over the last five years. In 2011, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) expects some 103 ships carrying more than 390,000 passengers to dock, up from 55 ships in 2007 and just 13 ships in 2005. 'The growth in cruise tourism helped the region’s tourism sector through the more difficult period of the economic downturn, as the increasing number of cruise travellers provided a much-needed lift to the hospitality sector,' said Chris Hayman, chairman of Seatrade, organiser of the Middle East Cruise Convention. During the convention, representatives from the world’s cruise lines will meet with regional stakeholders for the two-day event featuring an exhibition, conference, workshops and training seminars. Delegates and visitors from regional destinations will have a rare opportunity to reach cruise line decision-makers and hear the latest in industry trends from experts and business leaders. Workshop sessions held on the convention’s second afternoon will foster interaction between the region’s ports and cruise line itinerary planners, who will gain new insight into the unique offerings available. Port operators from Dubai, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi have already committed, with others expected to sign on in the coming months. The UAE’s cruise sector is set for further growth from the end of 2011, with MSC Cruises planning to base its 59,000-tonne MSC Lirica vessel in Abu Dhabi’s, Mina Zayed Port from October this year. Other international cruise brands, Costa Cruises, Royal Caribbean International and AIDA Cruises continue to operate and expand in the region. In addition, TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 2 makes its Middle East debut in winter 2012/13, with weekly round-trip voyages from Dubai to Oman, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain. 'Given the region’s rich maritime history, high number of luxury hotels and diverse array of other tourist drawcards, the Middle East Cruise Convention’s Dubai location is ideal,' added Hayman. Topics to be covered during the Middle East Cruise Convention conference programme include the factors behind the Gulf’s success as an expanding cruise destination and cruise line deployment strategies for the future.