<p>BAHRAIN hopes to land 100,000 extra tourists a year, as a cruise ship destination.The green light for the new initiative was given following a presentation by a Dubai cruise group at the InterContinental Regency Hotel yesterday.</p><p>Their visit followed a meeting in Dubai between the group and Information Ministry's tourism marketing and promotion project chief executive Mohammed Nass.</p><p>The presentations were made by Cruiseliners Dubai chief executive Awad Al Khatibi, Zayat Consulting chief executive Ali Zayat and Seatrade Middle East regional sales manager Richard Johnson.</p><p>&quot;Dubai attracts an average 100,000 tourists by cruises every year, and our plan is to attract all of them to Bahrain as well,&quot; Mr Nass told the GDN.</p><p>&quot;This will be part of a joint plan to market Gulf as one destination.</p><p>&quot;We had never looked at this aspect of tourism seriously. We shall now do everything to promote this segment which will attract high quality tourists to Bahrain.&quot;</p><p>More than 60 per cent of the cruise tourists visiting Dubai are Americans, followed by Canadians and Europeans.</p><p>&quot;These tourists are looking for something different in each destination,&quot; said Mr Nass.</p><p>&quot;If they consider Dubai as a shopping destination, they may visit Bahrain for its culture and heritage.&quot;</p><p>Mr Nass said he would hold talks with other government agencies, including the immigration and port authorities, to make the cruise tourists' visit to Bahrain smooth and comfortable.</p><p>&quot;Internationally, new standards are being applied in 2010 for passenger terminals handling cruiseliners,&quot; he noted.</p><p>&quot;Our port, I hope, will be fully equipped to meet those standards.&quot;</p><p>The move, said Mr Nass, would add value to Bahrain's tourism industry.</p><p>&quot;The cruise tourists will also contribute to our economy. Our shops, tourism centres and transport fleet will all benefit,&quot; he added.</p><p>Tourism Affairs tourism marketing specialist Essa Hassani said an average cruiseliner carries about 1,000 tourists. </p><p>&quot;The cruise season in the Gulf starts in October and ends in May,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Under the joint marketing plan, each vessel will call at four or five ports in the Gulf, including Bahrain, during a seven-day cruise.&quot;</p>