This came in Al Midfa’s meeting with the captain and crew of luxury cruise ship Costa Fortuna in Khorfakkan Port. Welcoming the Costa Fortuna on its maiden call to the Emirate today (Tuesday, Dec 17) with around 2,700 people onboard, Al Midfa said that Sharjah looked forward to the arrival of international luxury cruise tourists in the Emirate and is committed to extending all possible help and services to visiting ships and passengers.
Following a plaque exchange ceremony on board the Costa Fortuna, Al Midfa said that Sharjah is keen to develop and boost the tourism infrastructure and hospitality facilities on the East Coast, along with the rest of the Emirate. Several major tourism and hospitality sector projects, including The Chedi Khorfakkan and Kalba ecotourism initiative, are already underway in the region known for its spectacular coastline, golden beaches and rugged mountains besides authentic Arab culture.
The SCTDA Director General said that thanks to their strategic and ideal location at the crossroads of continents and cultures and major shipping routes with world-class amenities and tourist attractions, Sharjah and the UAE are increasingly popular choices of international luxury cruise industry.
He said international tourists, especially those from Europe, are showing increasing interest in Sharjah because of its unique cultural offering.
Al Midfa said that the past few years have seen an extraordinary surge in luxury cruise industry’s interest and presence in the Emirate with major European and other international luxury cruise-liners making Sharjah a regular port of call on their international itinerary.
He urged the tourism and hospitality industry partners in the Emirate to tap these booming opportunities in order to contribute to the economy.
Costa Fortuna is owned by an Italian cruise shipping company with headquarters in Genoa. The ship will be making three calls to Port Khorfakkan during this cruise season, before sailing to Dubai.
The passengers onboard Costa Fortuna are predominantly European with a mix of other nationalities. Port Khorfakkan is one of the biggest and key ports in the region and the only natural harbor with world-class facilities.
Sharjah’s 2013-2014 luxury cruise season began last month with the arrival of MSC Lirica with more than 2000 people on board. A total number of 43,000 luxury cruise passengers are scheduled to visit the Emirate during this season.
