Dubai: There will be no easy return to form for one pillar of Dubai’s travel and tourism industry – cruises – as a new wave of lockdowns and travel restrictions in Europe, which is the biggest source for passengers, take hold. This could push back recovery until later this year, industry sources say.
The delay has been mostly because feeder markets in Europe are still “reeling under the impact of COVID-19,” said Ashok Kumar, Managing Director of Cruise Master, a booking agency. “The new COVID strain is not helping either.”
Geneva-based MSC Cruises, which was planning to deploy a ship in the Middle East from December 5 to April 3, 2021, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.