- Title: UAE: Dubai inaugurates new cruise terminal and names new cruise liner
- Date: 24th February 2010
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS TOURISM AT THE DUBAI DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM, HAMAD BIN MEJREN, SAYING: "We have been investing in this sector (cruise tourism) for more than 10 years and we have built a site designated for cruise passengers. This sector has grown drastically, six or seven years ago we had 10,000 travellers. In 2009, this figure rose to 263,000 sea passengers and we expect an increase in the coming years. In 2010 we are expecting an increase of 35 percent." VARIOUS OF COSTA DELIZIOSA CRUISE SHIP, WHICH WAS NAMED AT INAUGURATION CEREMONY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF SALES AT ALPHA TOURS, SAMIR HAMADEH, SAYING: "The infrastructure put in place by Dubai since a long time ago has accommodated tourist cruise ships coming to the Gulf countries, all of the gulf countries, to make a stop in Dubai. They go to visit other emirates but their base remains in Dubai. This is proof that Dubai has become one of the key locations for tourism world-wide, which welcome international cruise ships from Europe and other parts of the world." VARIOUS OF INTERIOR OF COSTA DELIZIOSA CRUISE SHIP (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF SALES AT ALPHA TOURS, SAMIR HAMADEH, SAYING: "The global economic problems have definitely affected Dubai as it has impacted the rest of world, but Dubai has been active in encouraging tourism companies to continue to support Dubai and you find the place now, thank God, in a very good shape, in regards to tourism in general." VARIOUS OF COSTA DELIZIOSA
- Embargoed: 11th March 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Industry
- Reuters ID: LVA95M31P003HK14VK6EGPOQDOVX
- Story Text: Dubai inaugurates a new port dedicated entirely to cruise ships, a move officials hope will boost tourism in the emirate.
A joint inauguration ceremony held in Dubai on Tuesday (February 23) saw the opening of the new port terminal dedicated to cruise ships and the naming of the Italian ship Costa Deliziosa, the first time a ship was named in the region, organisers said.
Emirati and Italian performers, horse riders and parachute stuntmen entertained thousands of cruise passengers, business guests and government officials attending the ceremony, amongst them was Dubai's crown prince Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Maktoum and other members of the ruling family.
The new terminal is said to be one of the biggest cruise facilities in the region stretching over 3,450 square metres and with capacity to accommodate four cruise ships at one time.
Officials are hoping the new port will boost tourist traffic through the UAE and Dubai.
"We have been investing in this sector (cruise tourism) for more than 10 years and we have built a site designated for cruise passengers. This sector has grown drastically, six or seven years ago we had 10,000 travellers. In 2009, this figure rose to 263,000 sea passengers and we expect an increase in the coming years. In 2010 we are expecting an increase of 35 percent," said Hamad bin Mejren from the Dubai Department of Tourism.
Weighing over 92,000 tonnes with the capacity to carry over 2,800 passengers and a cost tag of 450 million Euros (USD $607 million), the Costa Deliziosa is the latest vessel from Italy's biggest cruise firm, Costa. The interior design of the ship combines traditional Arabic and modern Italian styles and the joint inauguration ceremony was intended to highlight the close relationship Italy has with the Arab world, organisers said.
The ship will be sailing in the Arabian Gulf in the winter months departing from Dubai and with stopovers at Oman, Bahrain, Fujairah and Abu Dhabi -- it will sail to Norway and Baltic cities for the rest of the year.
Samir Hamadeh from Alpha Tours, a tourism agency representing Costa in the United Arab Emirates, said he had no concerns about the new ship's ability to bring in tourists and profit to investors.
"The infrastructure put in place by Dubai since a long time ago has accommodated tourist cruise ships coming to the Gulf countries, all of the gulf countries, to make a stop in Dubai. They go to visit other emirates but their base remains in Dubai. This is proof that Dubai has become one of the key locations for tourism world-wide, which welcome international cruise ships from Europe and other parts of the world," Hamadeh said.
Hit by the global economic crisis and its own internal debt problems, Dubai's tourism industry has not been all that immune to the global financial downturn
"The global economic problems have definitely affected Dubai as it has impacted the rest of world, but Dubai has been active in encouraging tourism companies to continue to support Dubai and you find the place now, thank God, in a very good shape, in regards to tourism in general," he added.
Officials at Tuesday's inauguration were keen to emphasise the importance of tourism to the Emirate and the government's continued investment in this sector. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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