26 Feature CRUISE INDUSTRY
Making waves
The UAE’s buoyant cruise industry is setting a course to become a serious contender on the global scene
Once considered the preserve of the sedate traveller, cruising in recent years has undergone a major sea change. The industry has been rein- vigorated by the launch of spectacular ships boasting facilities that are simply staggering. From ice bars and surf simulators to shows straight from the world’s top theatre districts, Michelin-starred dining, parks, planetariums and zip lines, there’s no end to the adventure on board. Then of course, there’s the added bonus of waking up in an exotic new destina- tion every morning, or simply enjoying the thrill of time spent on the open ocean. The very definition of experiential travel,
the sector is growing at a rapid rate with more than 25 million people set to take a cruise holi- day this year, according to research from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Its ‘State of the Industry’ report for 2017 predicts a 4.5 percent increase in cruise passengers to 25.3 million in 2017, compared to 24.2 million passengers last year. Destinations the world over are waking up
to the potential the sector brings and are, as a result, finding new ways to grow their cruise tourism offering, and the Gulf countries are
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no exception. Leading the charge is the UAE, Oman and Qatar, all of which are rapidly devel- oping their cruise and tourism infrastructure to attract more ships and travellers. Cruise passengers made more than one million visits to GCC countries during the 2015-2016 season, and even more significant growth is anticipated during the current 2016-2017 season, which will see many major cruise lines make maiden calls or homeport in the region for the first time.
DOCKING INDUBAI Dubai Cruise Tourism (DCT) anticipated more than 600,000 cruise tourists between October 2016 and April 2017 as the number of cruise ship calls at its port, Mina Rashid, jumped 16 percent year on year to hit a record 157 during the period, compared to 134 ships during the 2015-2016 season. Norwegian Cruise Line and the UK’s Thom- son Cruises have made first-time visits to Dubai this season, also marking their regional debut. Thomson Cruises is the first ever UK-based cruise line to homeport in Dubai, making 12 calls and bringing more than 25,000 cruise tourists to the emirate.
As of this season, Dubai plays host to more
than 23 cruise operators, including six that now use the emirate as a base. “Through our cruise tourism strategy, we
aim to bring in one million tourists to Dubai by 2020 and we are heading in the right direction,” says DCT Director Jamal Humaid Al Falasi. The agency is working with Emirates, DP
World, Dubai Customs, Dubai Immigration and other stakeholders to provide “comprehensive support and increased flexibility for cruise lines and travellers”, he says. In December, port operator DP World
announced plans to improve facilities at Rashid Port, with work already underway on a new terminal, as well as a 465-metre bridge connecting terminals 2 and 3. Dubai’s attractive on-shore offering is also
luring more cruise lines, says Lakshmi Durai, CEO of Travel Matrix, the Gulf representative for Celebrity Cruises. “2016-2017 winter has been the first Arabian
Gulf season for Celebrity Cruises,” she says. “The cruise line appeals to high-end guests, primar- ily from the US, UK and mainland Europe, and we feel Dubai’s world-class attractions and
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experiences, combined with its Arabian herit- age and culture, provide them with an unforget- table and exciting luxury holiday.” The cruise line deployed the 2,170-guest
Celebrity Constellation in the Gulf for six sailings, taking in the UAE and Oman between Novem- ber 2016 and January 2017.
ABU DHABI’S NEW NICHE In neighbouring Abu Dhabi, the cruise tourism segment is already sailing full steam ahead. There has been a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7 percent over the last five years, according to a report by Oxford Econom- ics, commissioned by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi Ports and Etihad Airways. It forecasts further sustained growth of 10.5 percent CAGR to reach 450,000 cruise passengers by 2020, rising to more than 808,000 in 2025. This season, which runs until early June
2017, Abu Dhabi will welcome more than 250,000 passengers from 137 calls by 26 ships — up 21 percent year on year. The report predicts total cruise sector spend will increase by 71 percent to AED417
1 Costa Cruises ship at Dubai Cruise Terminal 2 Queen Elizabeth II moored at Port Rashid, Dubai 3 Costa Cruises ship 4 Celebrity Cruises
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