NeoRomantica first ship to arrive in Khorfakkan this season

A total number of 40 international luxury cruiseliners are scheduled to arrive on the picturesque East Coast during the 2012-2013 season, or from now and between April 8, 2012, with approximately 130,000 passengers registering a nearly 50 per cent increase over last year, said HE Mohamed Ali Al Noman, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority.

Last year the Khor Fakkan port had hosted 23 luxury cruiseliners with more than 67,000 passengers on board. International cruiseliners to visit Sharjah this season include Costa NeoRomantica, Costa Classica, Costa Atlantica, Costa Seabourn Odyssey and Costa Seabourn Pride.

Al Noman welcomed the growing international luxury tourist interest in Sharjah which has been attracting an increasing number of European and Western tourists in recent years.

"Europe is our largest feeding market as far as tourism is concerned. This is why such visits by international cruiseliners, especially to the East Coast where the government of Sharjah has been making constant efforts to attract local and international travellers and investors, are to be only welcomed," stressed the SCTDA Chairman.

He said, "The emirate's leadership is keen to exploit the immense potential of the magnificent East Coast and the SCTDA is working with the tourism industry and other players on this front."

Al Noman said, "The Sharjah government is keen to develop tourism and hospitality infrastructure on the East Coast as an increasing number of international visitors and luxury tourists will directly contribute to the local economy and generate jobs and income."

"With its rugged landscape, azure seas and virgin beaches, the East Coast is a paradise that the international tourism industry and luxury cruise market has lately discovered. Besides, it's connected to international airports of Sharjah and Dubai with only a couple of hours drive," said Al Noman. "The doubling of cruise passengers over last year is a heartening development and a positive sign of exciting times ahead," he added.

The SCTDA chairman pointed out that thanks to its strategic location overlooking the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Gulf Coast and the natural splendour of the East Coast, Sharjah is ideally suited for luxury cruiseliners. Sharjah is home to three deep water harbours, the other two, apart from Khor Fakkan, being the Khalid Port and Hamriyah. This is the only emirate that has ports on both coasts.

Last year more than 1.5 million tourists visited Sharjah. The number is expected to be even higher this year. The cruise tourism sector in the Gulf has been expanding and growing at a breathless pace seeing a phenomenal increase in passenger traffic in recent years.