Dubai to tap into Aussie cruise boom
The rising popularity of cruise in Australia will see Dubai attempt to lure Aussie cruisers to its own waters as the destination targets growth in the sector.
In addition to a new cruise terminal due for completion at the end of this year, MSC Cruises will home port its CS MSC Lirica at Dubai from November. Its schedule of 20 voyages is expected to attract more than 60,000 passengers.
Julie King, Australasia director of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, confirmed the tourism body aims to tap into fast expanding sector of the Australian market.
“It’s still early stages in the development of the market,” she told Travel Today. "But we will start to see some growth there, – it's about education."
During the 2012-13 season, Dubai welcomed 407,825 cruise passengers, up from 396,544 the previous year. The number is expected to rise to 420,000 this year as 110 ships visit its cruise terminal and to 450,000 by 2015 when the sector is expected to be worth approximately AED 840 million.
Hamad Bin Mejren, DTCM director for business tourism, highlighted cruise as a “very cost effective” way to experience the region.
“Cruise tourism offers a fantastic way to travel that is very cost effective without compromising luxury, comfort or variety in experience,” he said.
“It’s a sector which is stimulating increased travel among tourists both from in the region and beyond. Our objectives are to grow cruise tourism both in terms of international visitors using Dubai as an embarkation point and residents of the UAE taking cruises around the region.
Dubai-based carrier Emirates now has a dedicated cruise section in response to the growing focus.
However, Arabian Adventures senior vice president Peter Payet admitted cruise in the region will be a “hard sell” for the Australian market.
“We need to create that awareness,” he said, suggesting famils as a method of stimulating interest in local cruise product.
The 2013-15 season will see the TUI Cruises return to the region operating seven-night Gulf cruises from Dubai, expected to carry 75,000 passengers over the period.In addition, the season will see Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth simultaneously port in Dubai – a first for Dubai.
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