DTCM Director General holds talks with Finnish officials

The other members of the delegation were Counselor at the Embassy of Finland, Mr. Jarmo Kuuttila, and the Senior Vice President Marketing of Kvaerner Masa-Yards (ship building and cruise manufacturer), Mr. Eero Makinen, at the DTCM Head Office. Also present at the meeting was the Acting Manager of Dubai Cruise Terminal, Mr. Awadh Al Seghayer.

The visiting delegation was briefed about the rapid growth of the cruise industry in Dubai and about the Seatrade Maritime Middle East exhibition from December 6 to 8.

The Director General held talks with the delegation on the tourism and trade industry in general and the cruise industry in particular and updated the visitors about Dubai's progress in this industry at such a rapid pace.

Mr. Al Seghayer highlighted Dubai's strength in passenger exchange which saw majority of the visitors to Dubai by sea taking a stopover and resuming their journey by air and vice versa. In addition he informed them about the strength of the cruise industry in Dubai. Dubai played hot to nearly 10,000 cruise tourists in 2004 and 13,000 passengers are expected in 2005.

The delegation also discussed bi-lateral issues and ways to strengthen relations between Finland and the UAE in general and Dubai in particular.
The number of Dubai hotel and hotel apartment guests from Finland saw an increase of eight per cent in 2003 over the previous year while trade between the two countries registered an increase of 140 per cent during the same period.