Cruise could become an integral part of the Arabian Travel Market next year.
Group exhibition manager Mark Walsh revealed serious consideration is being given to setting up a dedicated cruise pavillion for 2011.
He added: “It is a sector which is proving to be resilient in difficult economic times and continues to expand.”
Dubai’s new cruise terminal was completed in February this year and the Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing overseas promotions director Saleh Mohammed Al Geziry said its role in tourism in Dubai would become increasingly important.
He added: “A cruise ship inaugeration has already taken place here, the first in the UAE, Costa Cruises is using us as a hub and more ships will come here in the future.”
And Emirates divisional senior vice president for worldwide commercial operations Richard Vaughan revealed that demand from cruise passengers was already outstripping the available seats on carriers to Dubai.
He added:”We are working very closely withthe likes of Costa and Royal Caribbean to develop a large market and already we don’t have enough seats to satisfy the number of customers wanting to cruise – a lot of people came in on charters.”