The Oman Ministry of Tourism (Oman Tourism), Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) and Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM)are highlightingtheir new, joint Cruise Arabia partnership at Cruise Shipping Miami, the cruise industry’s leading global event in Miami, USA.
With the new Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman partnership just three months old, Miami is the international launch pad for its campaign to promote the Arabian Peninsula as a cruise tourism hotspot. 12 other Dubai participants, including Emirates Airline, Dubai Maritime City Authority and DP World in addition to tour operators Arabian Adventures, Sharaf Tours, Alpha Tours, Gulf Ventures, Orient Tours and SNTTA Emir Tours; and shipping agents RHS Group, Gulf Agency Company and Seamaster Maritime also attended the event.
A number of Omani tour operators and port authority spokespeople also attended alongside the Oman Ministry of Tourism.
During the World Cruise Tourism summit workshops, Hamad bin Mejren, Executive Director, Business Tourism, DTCM, appeared on a panel session focusing on cruise geography and itinerary development and discuss the opportunities for cruise tourism and the development of cruise itineraries within the Gulf region.
Ahead of appearing on the panel, Mejren commented, “Cruise Shipping Miami is the pinnacle of the global cruise industry’s calendar and for this reason we are delighted to attend this year’s event for the first time as Cruise Arabia, together with our partners from Oman and Abu Dhabi. In recent years the Dubai leadership has invested heavily in the development of the cruise sector, resulting in Dubai becoming recognised as a leading cruise hub. By partnering with Abu Dhabi and Oman to encourage a new generation of cruise tourists in the Gulf and to showcase all the region has to offer, we are looking forward to further evolution of this dynamic industry and increasing the number of cruise tourists that disembark at our ports.”
Salim Al Mamari, Director General of Tourism Promotion, Oman Ministry of Tourism, said, “Oman, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are emerging cruising destinations in the Middle East with immense potential to give strong competition to established global destinations. In fact, we already offer a highly developed tourism and hospitality infrastructure. New strategic policies and frameworks are currently being developed to help attract more tourists towards our cruise lines and their offerings. There are many aspects that work in Oman’s favour such as its rich cultural heritage and history, unique landscape diversity, including mountains and wadis, favourable weather for sailing, clear waters and pristine beaches and strong government support.”
Sultan Al Dhaheri, Acting Executive Director Tourism Sector, TCA Abu Dhabi, said, “Collectively, under our new Cruise Arabia approach, Abu Dhabi, Oman and Dubai represent a strong and captivating regional destination that can compete with the world’s primary cruise hotspots. Together we present a persuasive case for cruise lines to pro-actively consider the cruise growth potential of the Arabian Gulf and partner us in realising all our business aims.
“Throughout our region there is significant investment, both financial and in terms of human capital, going in to building this sector and the time is right for operators to align with us to reap the benefits of a segment which now has our full and committed attention,” Al Dhaheri added.
