Seatrade Middle East Cruise Forum to Showcase Boost in Cruise Passenger Numbers and Economic Impact

13 Dec, 2016

Abu Dhabi’s cruise tourism sector is on course for exponential expansion according to Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), the body responsible for the development of the emirate’s cruise tourism sector, delegates heard today at the 2016 Seatrade Middle East Cruise Forum being held in the UAE capital.

Welcoming delegates to the Forum, which runs at the Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island until Wednesday (December 14), HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), outlined how the cruise sector is now a primary niche product in the emirate’s tourism development strategy.

An economic impact and forecasting report by Oxford Economics, commissioned by TCA Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Ports and Etihad Airways, signals that the Abu Dhabi cruise tourism segment achieved a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7% in the last five years, and forecasts further sustained growth at a 10.5% CAGR to reach a total of 450,000 cruise passengers by 2020, rising to 808,428 in 2025.

This season, Abu Dhabi is set to welcome over 250,000 passengers from 137 calls by 26 ships – an increase of 21% over last year – in a season which runs until early June 2017.

Press Release