THE positive outlook for the region’s inbound cruise sector is boosting mutual tourism potential in key destinations across the GCC, with the Middle East pegged as a key growth market over the next four years through to 2015.
Diversifying its tourism appeal, supported by significant government spending, will allow Dubai to capitalise on new market segments such as cruises. Passenger figures quadrupled over the last five years and other destinations are swiftly following suit. Plans for the construction of new dedicated cruise terminal hubs are being fast tracked.
The expansion of regional facilities and the potential domino effect on overall tourism revenues for each destination is increasing the anticipation surrounding the long-term benefits of home port development in the Gulf.
The DTCM recently announced that DP World is set to build additional cruise terminal facilities to cater for the anticipated growth of the business. They forecast 150 ship calls with a passenger turnaround of more than 600,000 passengers by 2015.
Also, major cruise operators will bring more than 233,000 passengers to Dubai during the current cruise season. Aida Blu is a new ship from Aida cruises, a German cruise liner, with a capacity to carry 2050 passengers and 607 crew members. This vessel alone will account for more than 50,000 cruise passengers to Dubai in 10 visits to Dubai in the 2011/12 cruise season.
Just to give you an idea of the season ahead, Dubai will close the year 2011 by receiving a total of 135 cruise ships with 375,000 tourists while the year 2012 is expected to bring in 150 cruise vessels with around 425,000 passengers.
One of the key reasons cited for rapid regional growth is the potential to showcase multiple destinations to inbound tourists eager to get a snapshot of the Middle East from the comfort and convenience of a shipboard base.
In and around the Gulf, Oman is working to transform Mina Qaboos into a dedicated cruise port as part of the government’s Vision 2020 plan. This comes on the back of a record 72 per cent increase in passengers during the 2010/11 winter season against 2009/10 figures.
Abu Dhabi also launched a 1,300-visitor capacity tented cruise terminal at Mina Zayed in late 2011, ahead of the construction of a permanent dedicated facility to accommodate 600,000 passengers by 2030. Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has also prioritised cruise tourism as a strategic focus for 2012. In Qatar, the New Doha Port project, which includes a passenger cruise terminal, is scheduled to be operational at the end of 2014.
Upscale cruise tourism, and the arrival of smaller luxury cruise liners into the region, is another opportunity being highlighted by regional tourism leaders, with bespoke onshore activities tailored to this ‘niche within a niche’.
With health and safety currently topping the agenda, this topic is being addressed right across the region and will undoubtedly be a talking point at Arabian Travel Market. Dubai’s maritime governing body has already announced its intention to establish a dedicated cruise ship task force to focus on in-port safety and set global standards. Other destinations are also reviewing operational procedures.
The future potential of cruise tourism will once again be a highlight at this year’s Arabian Travel Market with the dedicated cruise pavilion.
This year we also have a interesting cruise panel discussion called ‘Return of the Dhow’ which looks at ways of bringing the ‘boutique cruisers’ in the Middle East out of the shadow of their super sized sisters, and explore the critical role they are playing within the region. This is one not to be missed!
Mark Walsh is portfolio director of Reed Travel Exhibitions. The Arabian Travel Market 2012 takes place on April 30 to May 2, 2012 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Dubai.
ATM Diaries
By Mark Walsh