The future of cruise tourism in the Middle East and the Subcontinent will come under the microscope at the third Seatrade Middle East Cruise Conference, to be held in Dubai in February, at the Grand Hyatt Dubai conference center.
Organized by Seatrade, the international maritime communications group, the conference will address critical issues impacting the region's cruise tourism sector and examine how to maximize its potential.
“The Gulf, Red Sea and the Indian Ocean together provide something that the industry badly needs, a richly diverse cruising ground for winter deployment as an attractive alternative to the Caribbean,” said Christopher Hayman, managing director of Seatrade.
"The region has invested heavily in preparation for cruise tourism. With the fundamentals firmly in place a panel of leading cruise industry experts will analyze the outlook and likely timetable for cruise tourism expansion,” he added.
“Dubai has the only dedicated cruise facility in the Arabian Gulf and we are working hard to secure the future of cruise tourism in the region. This conference will be the ideal forum to showcase our facilities and to meet with industry leaders,” said Awadh Al-Seghayer, who has responsibility for cruise tourism at the DCTM.
The cruise conference will be held as part of Seatrade Middle East Maritime, the region's first integrated conference and exhibition for the shipping industry that will take place from February 3-5.
The confex will also include a general shipping forum focusing on the potential for the international shipping industry in meeting the region's needs. Other issues to be addressed include developments in container shipping; safety, security and environmental issues; finance and insurance needs of regional shipping; the pattern of port and terminal development and the area's maritime infrastructure.
In addition, Seatrade Middle East Maritime will feature the biggest exhibition of maritime related products and services ever assembled in the region. Seatrade Middle East Maritime will use the Grand Hyatt Dubai's conference center to stage the exhibition, whilst The Fairmont Hotel and Hyatt Regency Dubai will oversee the accommodation and banqueting facilities for the event. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
