ID :
95985
Sun, 12/20/2009 - 15:25
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Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/95985
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Abu Dhabi eyes luxury cruise market
Abu Dhabi, Dec 20, 2009 (WAM)- The tourism authorities in Abu Dhabi are increasingly focused on developing the capital as a cruise ship destination and hub, with more than 60 ships expected to dock this winter according to "Khaleej Times" report.
Only this week, Abu Dhabi rolled out the red carpet to welcome more than 1,800 passengers who arrived aboard Italian operator Costa’s flagship ‘Lumin0sa’, currently on its maiden tour of the Gulf.
As part of the company’s newly-launched five-stop, seven-day winter cruise programme, passengers and more than 900 crew of the ‘Luminosa’ — which was launched in July this year — were among the first to experience Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority’s (ADTA) interactive visitor information centre at Abu Dhabi Terminals, Mina Zayed Port.
The new facility is part of ADTA’s continuing visitor-destination engagement programme and is designed to introduce passengers to the emirate’s customs and traditions as well as facilitate tour, hotel and attraction bookings.
“We are pulling out all the stops to make this one to remember for Luminosa’s passengers,” said Saeed Al Dhaheri, ADTA’s Tourism Information Services Manager.
Manned by trained visitor service representatives, the centre boasts a heritage village with falconry, henna designers and traditional Arabian handcraft displays, a dedicated exhibition on the future of Abu Dhabi — which visually maps out the emirate’s key development projects, including the iconic Saadiyat Island — and a reception and greeting area.
“Cruise ship arrivals give us an excellent platform from which to demonstrate all that Abu Dhabi has to offer, from its deep-rooted traditions and Arabian culture, its iconic landmarks such as Emirates Palace and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to the modern vibrancy of the city’s many restaurants and shopping centres,” said Al Dhaheri.
The ‘Luminosa’ joins a growing portfolio of leading cruise ships, which will be docking in the UAE capital this winter, and is the first of two vessels to make the Middle East debut, with industry stalwart Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas making its maiden voyage into Abu Dhabi next month.
Cruise tourism has been identified as a key growth segment for Abu Dhabi’s tourism industry. ADTA plans to roll out a cruise tourism strategy and associated cruise terminal feasibility analysis by the end of next year.
Abu Dhabi has enjoyed strong growth in the cruise tourism business over the last decade, with the number of passengers disembarking in the capital rising from 10,000 in 1999 to 100,000 in the 2008-09 season.
For the 2009-10 winter season, ADTA believes it will attract closer to 200,000 passengers, a figure it hopes to treble by 2030.
Only this week, Abu Dhabi rolled out the red carpet to welcome more than 1,800 passengers who arrived aboard Italian operator Costa’s flagship ‘Lumin0sa’, currently on its maiden tour of the Gulf.
As part of the company’s newly-launched five-stop, seven-day winter cruise programme, passengers and more than 900 crew of the ‘Luminosa’ — which was launched in July this year — were among the first to experience Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority’s (ADTA) interactive visitor information centre at Abu Dhabi Terminals, Mina Zayed Port.
The new facility is part of ADTA’s continuing visitor-destination engagement programme and is designed to introduce passengers to the emirate’s customs and traditions as well as facilitate tour, hotel and attraction bookings.
“We are pulling out all the stops to make this one to remember for Luminosa’s passengers,” said Saeed Al Dhaheri, ADTA’s Tourism Information Services Manager.
Manned by trained visitor service representatives, the centre boasts a heritage village with falconry, henna designers and traditional Arabian handcraft displays, a dedicated exhibition on the future of Abu Dhabi — which visually maps out the emirate’s key development projects, including the iconic Saadiyat Island — and a reception and greeting area.
“Cruise ship arrivals give us an excellent platform from which to demonstrate all that Abu Dhabi has to offer, from its deep-rooted traditions and Arabian culture, its iconic landmarks such as Emirates Palace and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to the modern vibrancy of the city’s many restaurants and shopping centres,” said Al Dhaheri.
The ‘Luminosa’ joins a growing portfolio of leading cruise ships, which will be docking in the UAE capital this winter, and is the first of two vessels to make the Middle East debut, with industry stalwart Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas making its maiden voyage into Abu Dhabi next month.
Cruise tourism has been identified as a key growth segment for Abu Dhabi’s tourism industry. ADTA plans to roll out a cruise tourism strategy and associated cruise terminal feasibility analysis by the end of next year.
Abu Dhabi has enjoyed strong growth in the cruise tourism business over the last decade, with the number of passengers disembarking in the capital rising from 10,000 in 1999 to 100,000 in the 2008-09 season.
For the 2009-10 winter season, ADTA believes it will attract closer to 200,000 passengers, a figure it hopes to treble by 2030.
