(MENAFN) The main aim of a GCC cruise visa is to allow cruise tourism to expand in the Gulf by easing the cumbersome visa process for nationalities not on the list of countries whose citizens get visas on arrival, reported Gulf News.
Dubai is a cruise hub in the Gulf for sailing to other GCC countries such as Oman, and Kuwait. Helen Beck, the Regional Director of EMEA for Royal Caribbean International, told Gulf News recently: "We have had verbal confirmation from the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) that it is very likely that the visa situation will be resolved by September."
DTCM operates the Dubai Cruise Terminal; they had a turnover of 396,500 tourists in 2011, and expect to have 420,000 cruise tourists for 2012. Cruise tourists are expected to rise to 450,000 by 2013, and 500,000 by 2015 giving the economy of Dubai a big push from tourism.
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