In order to consolidate the position of the largest cruise center in the Middle East region for the emirate of Dubai, the operator of marine terminals, DP World, intends to expand its cruise terminal in the port of them. Sheikh Rashid.
Recall that this port is located in the center of Dubai. Today, its cruise terminal is capable of serving simultaneously two ocean cruise liners with a total capacity of 7 thousand passengers. DP World plans to increase the terminal’s capabilities to such an extent that by the end of 2012 it could easily “serve” simultaneously five ocean cruise liners with passengers. In total, the company plans to bring the total number of serviced ocean liners simultaneously to seven. “The development and improvement of the terminal’s capabilities is part of the strategy developed by the Dubai authorities to stimulate the growth of the tourism sector,” said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of DP World. “I’m sure that the new capabilities of the terminal will help in the implementation of this strategy.”
"Specialists from the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commercial Marketing (DTKM) expect that by 2015, the share of cruise tourism in the emirate will increase to 58%," said Khalid bin Sulayem, general director of DTKM. “The new capabilities of the terminal will increase the number of cruise operators and the flow of cruise tourists. We are very pleased that DP World works in close partnership with us in this sector.”
It should be noted that in Dubai over the past few years there has been a serious increase in cruise tourism. The total number of travelers using the services of the Dubai Cruise Terminal increased by 30% in 2010 compared to 2009. For comparison, if in 2009 the terminal served 100 ocean liners with 260 thousand passengers, then in 2010 this number was 120 ocean liners and 390 thousand passengers. This year, from January to September, 135 ocean liners with 475 thousand passengers were served at the terminal.
