Dubai dhow cruises not hit by Bahrain tragedy

"At the moment, bookings are relatively normal but it is still early to say if a decline will be experienced because it would usually take about a week to know of a down trend," said Iyazur Rahman, Marketing Manager of Al Boom Tourist Village.

About 57 people, composed mostly of Indians and Britons, perished when a cruise ship capsized off the coast of Bahrain late Thursday. Media reports outside the UAE said that the tourist company that chartered the boat had allegedly overloaded the vessel and forced the captain to sail, carrying 137 passengers on board.

Rahman, meanwhile, said that as a matter of safety policy, they do not exceed the boat's maximum passenger capacity. "Our largest boat travels everyday and it can carry a maximum of 300 people, including crew members. But it has been our practice to accommodate not more than 200 people on the boat per trip," he explained.

Sachin Kumar, Marketing Manager of North Tours, agreed that licensed tour operators carefully consider the number of passengers that they take on board in order to prevent overloading.

"It is advisable to actually carry below the load capacity of a ship. At the moment we don't see the Bahrain tragedy having an immediate effect on the business because the Dubai Creek has always been considered safe," Kumar said. He, however, expressed concern that some new and small-time dhow cruise operators are plying the Creek without the proper licence from Dubai Police or without its crewmembers undergoing proper training.

Rahman said among the safety precautions they undertake are the training of their crew and captain and the daily maintenance of their boats.

Another tour operator executive, Sharif Helal, Leisures Sales Manager of Planet Travel Tours and Cargo, said since they do not own their own dhow boats, they have been selective in commissioning boat owners for their cruises. "Safety should remain the top priority of every cruise operator," he said.