Dubai Cruise Terminal Opens

Wed, 24th Feb 2010

COsta Deliziosa named in Dubai 

This is the first time a cruise ship has been named in Middle East…

The new Dubai Cruise Terminal has been formally opened by the Dubai Crown Prince HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in the presence of VIPs and offi cials. The Port Rashid complex has capacity to accommodate four cruise ships simultaneously, and features facilities including currency exchange, ATMs, post office, shops, and a business centre with free Internet access. During the launch festivities, the naming ceremony for the Costa Deliziosa also took place, making Dubai the first Arabian city to host such a ceremony. The ceremony for the Costa Cruises liner took place during its Grand Maiden Cruise, which left Italy on 5 February 2010.

Hamad bin Mejren, Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM) Executive Director of Business Tourism, said; “We welcome Costa’s decision to operate out of Dubai and also perform the naming ceremony of Costa Deliziosa here on the opening day of our new cruise terminal. We hope that it will be a shot in the arm for the regional cruise industry… We are confident that this will help expand the cruise tourism industry in the region and simulate other cruise operators to use the emirate as a cruise hub.”

Developed and operated by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) at the Port Rashid complex, the new facility, with a capacity to accommodate four cruise ships simultaneously, is expected to give a big boost to the high-yielding cruise tourism segment in the region’s best-equipped tourism destination.

Mejren said that the capacity of the new terminal has been increased and this is in line with future plan of the emirate to promote tourism in Dubai. By 2013, the terminal is expected to receive 165 ships with 475,000 passengers, reaching 180 ships with 525,000 passengers in 2014 and 195 ships with 575,000 passengers in 2015. He said that despite economic down turn the emirate continues to attract high number of tourists and record high occupancy in hotels. This landmark development clearly reflects the growth potential of cruise tourism in the emirate and also the global interest in Dubai's tourism facilities.

The façade of the new Cruise Terminal building is based upon Dubai’s contemporary Arabic design and reflects emirate’s rich maritime heritage and present a strong positive image of Emirati hospitality. Special attention has been given to the exterior and interior of the terminal. Traditional domes, arches and carvings are the major architectural elements that constitute the exterior facades.

The terminal have a tourists support infrastructure which includes facilities like money exchange, ATMs, post office, duty free shop, souvenir shops, gift shops, and business centre with free internet access, Wi-Fi enabled for lap-top users, VIP Majlis, and toilets with access to physically-challenged visitors.

The DTCM has set-up information counters inside the cruise terminal which is manned round the clock when ships are in-port to cater the needs and inquiries of the passengers and facilitating them with free maps and broachers about Dubai. In addition, the terminal houses offices for representatives from other government bodies such as Immigration, Customs and police to ensure easy access and swift services for the passengers.

The DTCM Director General, Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem, said: “The opening of state-of-the-art facility is a major milestone in our tourism journey. The Cruise tourism plays a crucial role in the overall growth and development of the tourism industry in the emirate. We realized its importance long ago and created the infrastructure and services that were needed to tap its potential. The new terminal will meet the increase demand that has been recorded in cruise tourists to Dubai.”

In 2009, Dubai played a host to 87 cruise ships that brought 261,000 cruise tourists. This year, Dubai will be hosting 120 ships with over 325,000 passengers. Next year, the terminal is expected to receive 135 ships with 375,000 passengers followed by 150 ships with 425,000 passengers in 2012, 165 ships with 475,000 passengers in 2013 and 180 ships with 525,000 passengers in 2014 and 195 ships with 575,000 passengers in 2015.

Find all the latest Costa Cruise deals online at CruiseDuabi.co.uk   

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