Dubai Cruise Terminal, operated by global marine terminal operator DP World and managed by Department of Tourism & Commerce (DTCM), has won the World’s Leading Cruise Port award at the prestigious World Travel Awards 2011 for the fourth consecutive time.
Tariq Bin Khalifa, Director, Account Management, DP World, UAE Region, and Mohammed Al Mannaei, Director – Port Rashid, DP World UAE Region, received the award on behalf of the company at WTA’s Grand Final Gala ceremony in Doha on Wednesday evening (January 11). The event was attended by hundreds of top industry executives, including decision makers in global travel and tourism.
The event marked the culmination of a year-long search for the very best travel and tourism brands in the world, and Dubai Cruise Terminal located at Port Rashid was voted the world’s best from among WTA’s 17 regional winners for the year.
The WTA honour comes just two months after DP World announced plans to expand the current terminal facilities by the end of 2012 to cater for as many as five cruise ships at one time from the existing capacity for two vessels. DP World’s vision is for Port Rashid to eventually be able to serve as many as seven cruise vessels at one time.
Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region , said: “The consistency with which Dubai has been voted the World’s Leading Cruise Port at the World Travel Trade Awards confirms our long-term commitment to invest in developing Port Rashid further as the regional cruise destination of choice. We are honoured by this recognition and we thank our strategic partner in promoting cruise tourism, the Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM), for their important role in the success of Port Rashid as a cruising destination.”
Dubai Cruise Terminal won the Middle East’s Leading Cruise Port award four consecutive times at the World Travel Awards between 2008 and 2011.
According to DTCM, Dubai will see a cruise tourism growth in excess of 58% by 2015. Dubai Cruise Terminal experienced a 30% growth in tourist traffic between 2009 and 2010, from 100 ships and 260,000 passengers to 120 ships and more than 390,000 passengers. The pattern is set to continue with 135 cruise vessel calls in 2011and 475,000 passengers.
As well as Port Rashid, DP World also developed and operates South America’s largest and most modern cruise terminal, Quinquela Martin in Buenos Aires, Argentina, located in its Terminales Rio de la Plata (TRP).
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World Maritime News Staff, January 12, 2012;