Africa and Middle East
The cruise markets in Africa and the Middle East are relatively smaller compared to regions like Europe, North America, or Asia, but they are increasingly recognized for their unique appeal, emerging destinations, cultural richness, and untapped tourism potential.
Key Cruise Markets
Africa: Key markets include Cape Town, Durban, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar
Middle East & The Arabian Peninsula: Key markets include Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Salalah, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia
Market Trends
Africa
Expedition and Luxury
Rising interest in expedition and luxury cruising focused on cultural, historical, and wildlife experiences.
Africa
Bucket-list Itineraries
Growing appeal of "bucket-list" itineraries including wildlife safaris combined with coastal cruising experiences.
Africa
Port Infrastructure
South Africa becoming a prominent regional hub due to improved port infrastructure and increasing global visibility.
Middle East
Infrastructure Growth
Rapid infrastructure growth, particularly in UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, to establish the region as a premier winter cruise destination.
Middle East
Short-duration Cruises
Increased popularity of short-duration cruises (3–7 nights) along the Arabian Gulf, attracting European and Asian tourists.
Middle East
Experiences
Emphasis on luxury, shopping, culture, and entertainment to cater to regional and international travelers.
Future Opportunities
Africa
- Significant potential for growth, particularly along the Indian Ocean route.
- Enhanced infrastructure investments in countries like South Africa, Mauritius, and Seychelles could further stimulate market growth.
Middle East
- Ambitious tourism strategies like Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative, promoting significant investment in cruise tourism infrastructure along the Red Sea.
- Expanding regional cooperation and destination marketing to position the Middle East as a distinctive cruise region.
