Sharjah is expecting an increase in its tourism sector after two European cruise liners made maiden visits to the emirate.
The arrival of the MV Mein Schiff 2 and Aida Aura vessels at Khor Fakkan Port this month brought in 3,400 passengers.
“Sharjah is expecting a strong cruise tourism season with thousands of international tourists in the months ahead,” said Khalid Al Midfa, director general at Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA).
Both cruise liners are operated by German companies.
The tourism authority welcomed most German tourists with a traditional Ayala band playing on the quay.
Sharjah is looking to grow its cruise industry over the next couple of years, with more than 71 arrivals by 17 major international cruise liners expected at Khor Fakkan Port in the next two cruise seasons carrying a total of more than 157,000 passengers.
“The surge in international arrivals and cruise ships offers tremendous opportunities and avenues of growth to tourism and hospitality sector stakeholders in the emirate,” Mr Al Midfa said. “We are seeing more and more international investors and hospitality chains showing interest in the east coast as a result a number of new tourism and hospitality projects have begun taking shape.”
Cruise liner tourism is picking up across the region. Abu Dhabi Ports Company expects to receive nearly 25 per cent more cruise ships and 16 per cent additional passengers this season compared with last year. As part of a plan to boost cruise tourism in the capital, Abu Dhabi is set to open a cruise passenger terminal in 2016 which will be able to handle three vessels at the same time and welcome 2,500 passengers.
Other destinations in the region, including Dubai, Qatar, Oman and Ras Al Khaimah, are also expanding capacity in anticipation of attracting more cruise passengers.
Dubai’s Mina Rashid Cruise Terminal is expected to be able to handle seven cruise vessels simultaneously, up from five – and process 14,000 passengers a day after an expansion project is completed.
Doha Port expects to cater to cruise tourists exclusively from 2016 after commercial port operations move to a $7.4 billion facility outside the city.
In Oman, commercial shipping in Sultan Qaboos Port is expected to stop this year to cater to cruise ships. There are also plans to revamp Salalah and Musandam’s Khasab ports for cruise tourists.
thamid@thenational.ae
Follow The National's Business section on Twitter
