Dubai introduces multiple entry visa for Indian Cruise Travellers

Dubai Cruise Tourism, part of Dubai Tourism, has begun a four city roadshow in India as part of its overall strategy to promote the city’s strengths as a growing international hub for cruise tourism.

Beginning in New Delhi, the delegation from Dubai Cruise Tourism travelled to Chennai, Bengaluru and Mumbai. During the visit, Dubai tourism delegation members will network with 700 key Indian travel trade partners and media, alongside some of the biggest and best known companies operating in the cruise industry worldwide - MSC, Costa Crociere and Royal Caribbean International (RCI).

Commenting on the initiative Hamad bin Mejrin, Executive Director, Dubai Tourism, said: “Dubai has long and very strong links with India and its people, and from a tourism perspective, the country is one of our top three source markets for visitors to our city. With the announcement of a new multi-entry visa for cruise passengers we expect to see a further increase of our share of the Indian outbound travellers, including those within the cruise segment, as this will be an added attraction to visiting the city of Dubai.

“Cruise tourism in India is still a relatively new and evolving concept, but it has significant potential for development and growth as more people are eager to travel the world. We want to ensure that more Indian travellers are made aware of the unique attractions of cruise tourism - from on-board entertainment, to special deals for families, to incredible itineraries which include amazing destinations across the Arabian Gulf and beyond.”

The Indian travel trade fraternity comprising cruise promotion professionals will also have the opportunity to learn more of the recently launched UAE multi-entry cruise tourism visa.

This week’s roadshow marks the first time that the Dubai Cruise Tourism team has undertaken a dedicated city tour in India to promote Dubai’s strength as the Middle East’s leading cruise destination. During 2013, a total of 888,835 Indian hotel guests stayed in Dubai, representing growth of 16 per cent over the corresponding period of 2012. Buoyed by the potential that India holds, Dubai aims to attract a larger share of the fast-growing outbound Indian tourism sector, and specifically the cruise tourism segment.

Dubai’s cruise season, which runs from October through to June, will see a total of 110 cruise ship calls carrying more than 381,000 passengers arriving in the city. Passenger numbers are set to rise by 19 per cent on the 2013/2014 season, meaning an additional 60,000 sea-travellers will embark, disembark or transit at Mina Rashid, Dubai.

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