Dubai?s cruise industry?continues to flourish with the announcement of MSC Cruises becoming the hub?s newest home porting partner and two Cunard cruise liners due to make an appearance as well.
With Dubai featuring on most of the world?s leading cruise liners? international itineraries, it continues to reinforce its position as a popular cruise destination, firmly cementing?its reputation as the Arabian Gulf?s ?cruise hub of the region.?
Welcoming more than 407,000 cruise tourists last year, numbers will increase to around 420,000 for the new season with Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing?(DTCM) expecting that number to reach one million by 2020.
?A combination of careful and strategic planning, marketing initiatives, infrastructure development, targeted investment and Dubai?s appeal as a popular destination, has allowed?Dubai to experience robust growth in cruise tourism,? DTCM general manager Veronica Rainbird said.
?Dubai has the largest, state of the art facilities?for cruise tourism in the Middle East and has consistently kept up with the industry?s growth and demand, enhancing the facilities and services of its ports to cater to the growing number of cruise lines and visitors.?
New to the region, MSC Cruises has proudly announced Dubai as its newest home port for their 2013-2014 season itinerary, with the MSC Lirica arriving in November and bringing over 60,000 passengers in its 20 turnaround call.
Cunard Line has announced in addition to their?overnight Dubai calls in April 2014,?both Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth will be returning once again to Dubai as part of their world cruise in 2015.