THE GROWING MOMENTUM FOR CRUISE TOURISM IN THE REGION
– sponsored by Rais Hassan Saadi Group (RHS)

• The growth of the Middle East Gulf as a major destination for winter cruising
• How cruise tourism can play a more important role in the region’s inbound tourism mix
• Sourcing passengers from the Gulf area

Keynote speaker:
PIER LUIGI FOSCHI, Chairman & CEO, Costa Crociere SpA

Guest speaker:
MANFRED URSPRUNGER, Chief Executive Officer, QE2 Enterprises, Nakheel Hotels, Nakheel PJSC

Speakers will include:
SEBASTIAN AHRENS, Managing Director, Hapag-Lloyd Kreuzfahrten GmbH
MICHAEL BAYLEY, Senior Vice President, Royal Caribbean International
ALY EL ZAYAT, Chairman, El Zayat Tourism & Hospitality Consultancy, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
GEORGE STATHOPOULOS, Executive Consultant for Business & Product Development, Louis Cruise Lines
ARIS ZARPANELY, Executive Vice President Strategy Development, Silversea Cruises SAM. The Elle Group MC

PORT TERMINALS AND DESTINATIONS
– sponsored by Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism

• Port and terminal development
• Itineraries and shore-ex opportunities; what the cruise lines are looking for
• Dubai as a service centre for cruise operations

Speakers will include:
NICOLA CESARO, Tour Operator Manger, Shore Excursions Department, MSC Cruises
PETER COX, Director, Itinerary Planning & Land Development, Seabourn Cruise Line
SIMON DOUWES, Director, Deployment & Itinerary Planning, Holland America Line
BRUCE KRUMRINE, Vice President, Shore Operations, Princess Cruises
JOHN MARDEN, Fleet Director, Carnival UK
DARIUS MEHTA, Director of Land Programs, Silversea Cruises
MOHAMMED NASS, Chief Executive, Tourism Marketing & Promotion, Kingdom of Bahrain, Ministry of Information
TAHSIN SHEHADAH, General Manager, Tartous Shipping Co Ltd, Syria
PETER WRIGHT, Commercial Manager, Saga
KHALID WALID AL ZADJALI, Acting Director of Tourism, Oman Ministry of Tourism