Sharjah to witness 50% increase in cruise passengers
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Sharjah is placing aggressive emphasis on its tourism industry. In line with its growth, the Emirates East Coast is set to witness nearly 50% increase in arrivals of international luxury cruise passengers during the upcoming 2012-2013 season.
This year the Khor Fakkan Port will host more than 40 international luxury cruise liners with approximately 130,000 passengers, said HE Mohamed Ali Al Noman, chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority. “During the upcoming season, Khor Fakkan Port, which hosted 23 luxury cruise liners with more than 67,000 passengers onboard during the 2011-12 season, will receive two cruise ships a week as against just one weekly call in the last season,” he added.
Some cruise ships that have confirmed their calls at Khor Fakkan Port include Costa Atlantica (17 calls), Costa Classica (16 calls), Costa neoRomantica (4 calls), Seabourne Pride (one call) and Seabourne Odyssey (two calls.) TUI Cruises and Royal Caribbean, who are in negotiations with the Khor Fakkan Port Authority, are likely to come onboard soon.
Hailing the increase in international luxury cruise calls, the SCTDA Chairman said that the emirate, has been attracting an increasing number of European tourists in recent years, is looking forward to more international visitors to its East Coast. Al Noman further emphasized that the emirate was keen to develop the tourism infrastructure and facilities on the East Coast to attract more international tourists.
Last year more than 1.5 million tourists visited Sharjah. The number is expected to be significantly higher this year.