The Department of Tourism and Commercial Marketing of the Government of Dubai (DTKM) announced that it expects to receive at least 135 cruise liners with 375 thousand passengers in the port of the emirate in the new offshore tourist season, which will last until June 2011.
Not so long ago, the official opening ceremony of a new cruise terminal was held at the Rashid port in Dubai, during which Khalid bin Suleim, DTCM CEO, thanked all partners for their support in the construction. Dubai DTCM has been popularizing the cruise tourism sector in the emirate since 2001, representing it at specialized exhibitions and shows, as well as to large tourist delegations arriving in the UAE. In 2009, the number of cruise liners calling at the port of Dubai amounted to 100, and the total number of their passengers was 260 thousand.
By the end of this year, the number of liners will be 120 with 325 thousand passengers. DTCM experts expect these indicators to increase steadily over the next five years. So, in 2011, 135 cruise liners and 375 thousand passengers will arrive at the port of Dubai, in 2012-150 liners and 425 thousand passengers, in 2013-165 liners and 475 thousand passengers, in 2014-180 liners and 525 thousand passengers, and in 2015 -195 airliners and 575 thousand passengers.
