The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) expects cruise passenger growth to the emirate to double during the next holiday season. ADTA bases their projections on “the 100% occupancy level achieved by the cruise ships using Abu Dhabi as a ‘port of call’ last season” according to ADTA deputy director general Ahmed Hussein. ADTA projects 199,113 cruise passenger visitors will arrive in Abu Dhabi between November and early May. Last year during this period, ADTA figures show 125,200 cruise ship passengers visited.
Ahmed Hussein attributed the increase in cruise ship passengers this year to Abu Dhabi’s inclusion in the Royal Caribbean International’s weekly itinerary for its Brilliance of the Seas. This has a passenger capacity of 2,501. Also Costa Rica is introducing new, bigger ships with more passenger capacity.
