Dubai to tap into Aussie cruise boom

Dubai to tap into Aussie cruise boom
By admin


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.

Latest News

  • Products

Embrace the journey: Traversing the world with the Shokz OpenRun

If you’ve been on the wrong side of a final call in the airport, or missed the stop on rail journey, it might be time to invest in a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones. Originally marketed as headphones for fitness fanatics, runners or cyclists with a keen to steer clear of a prang with a car, […]

  • Tour Operators
  • Tourism

TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips

The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]

  • Aviation

Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak

Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]

  • Hotels

Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa

Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]

  • Luxury
  • News

Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]