Smooth sailing for cruise tourism

Tourism in the UAE is cruising into a new era. As we reported in the Weekend section, the Celebrity Constellation cruise ship is offering five-star experiences from Abu Dhabi to Goa. And Celebrity is just one of more than a dozen cruise brands whose vessels will be plying the Gulf and Indian Ocean this winter. Each year sees bigger, better and more ships docking in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Between now and early April, people on all kinds of budgets will be able to enjoy all-inclusive cruises. This is good news for those of us seeking a new holiday experience, as well as tourism businesses looking for new custom. Cruising is among the fastest-growing tourism sectors globally, attracting both newcomers and regular patrons who travel the world seeking new ports of call, experiences and attractions. And in Abu Dhabi, our biggest upcoming attraction, the Louvre, is right opposite the cruise terminal at Zayed Port.
Thousands of passengers will arrive each week; our challenge is to encourage them to spend more time and money on dry land.

Source : The National