Costa Cruises winter season in Dubai and the Emirates
In winter 2009/2010 Costa’s ships are expected to bring 140,000 passenger movements to Dubai thanks to the presence of three ships – the Costa Luminosa, the Costa Deliziosa and the Costa Europa – for a total of 32 calls. The estimated economic impact will be about €14 million*, coming from Costa Guests direct spending, shore excursions, transfers, cruise operation expenditures, general expenditures (food & beverage). Most of Costa’s Guests will come from Europe (Italy, Germany, UK and France). In addition to Costa Cruises ships also one AIDA Cruises ship, AIDAdiva (69,200 gross tonnage and 2,500 total Guests), will be calling 20 times at Dubai in winter 2009/10.
Costa Cruises – together with AIDA Cruises, the German brand also belonging to Costa Crociere’s group – was the first to market regular cruises in the Arabian Gulf, turning Dubai into a major cruise destination and contributing to its growth as a tourism destination, as mentioned by Cruise Travel Magazine. Costa’s operations in the area started in winter 2006/2007 with one ship, Costa Classica (53,000 gross tonnage and 1,680 Guests). The immediate success of the new cruise destination prompted Costa Cruises to increase its capacity in the area year after year. Costa Cruises’ passenger movements in Dubai increased from 44,000 in Winter 2006/07 to 100,000 in Winter 2008/09. Costa Cruises’ ships have generated substantial and growing business for the emirate of Dubai and the other ports of call on the itinerary.
As per a WEFA report – one of the most respected economic information company - tourism’s direct contribution to Dubai’s GDP stands at 19.89 per cent, while the indirect contribution is 35 per cent. Dubai is sailing ahead to become the ultimate cruise destination of the Middle East. The cruise industry is rapidly growing with 260,817 cruise tourists predicted to visit the emirate during 2009; nearly a 25 per cent increase on last year. In 2010, Dubai is expected to host 99 calls with over 383,000 passengers with the burgeoning cruise industry set to grow further as the new Dubai Cruise Terminal becomes operational in January 2010.
In a survey, 80 per cent of cruise passengers in Dubai revealed that they would extend their visit to the emirate during their next visit and 95 per cent said they would recommend others to visit Dubai to enjoy its all-appealing facilities, pristine beaches and unparalleled shopping options.
In Winter 2009/10 both Costa Deliziosa and Costa Luminosa will confirm the established 7-day itinerary with two nights in Dubai and one day calls at the ports of Muscat (Oman), Fujairah (United Arab Emirates), Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Bahrain. The Costa Deliziosa will be departing from Dubai on Sundays from 14 March 2010 to 9 May 2010; the Costa Luminosa will be setting sail on Saturdays from 12 December 2009 to 10 April 2010. In addition to the two Costa fleet jewels, the Costa Europa will be offering a brand new itinerary: 18-day winter cruises from Savona to Dubai and from Dubai to Savona – a unique itinerary crossing the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. More interesting cruises destinations can be discovered on the pages of Cruise Travel Magazine.
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