Failure to launch

KARACHI: It was seen as the most exciting thing to happen in Karachi in many years.

The venture was a cruise ship called Gulf Dream which would travel between Karachi and Dubai on a weekly basis. Passengers would be able to enjoy a five-day cruise to the Gulf and would be entertained on board with dance, theatre and games. The Gulf Dream’s maiden voyage took place in November 2006 but was unable to capture a target market and this venture came to an end after its very first trip.

Rumours and random theories still abound about the cruise venture’s abrupt end. Some say that the people on board did not follow the etiquette required on board but the target audience was young, rich Karachiites who could afford this luxury cruise.

Shehzad Roy was one of the leading promoters of the venture and told The Express Tribune that the maiden trip was unsuccessful in Pakistan because of the “tourism policy and the law and order situation in the country.”

According to a Karachi Port Trust official, “Such cruise tours have never been popular on this side of the world; it is a European approach that believes in world tours. This April Albatross anchored in Karachi for a few hours and most of the tourists on the cruise ship were from Germany.”

The official said, “Gone are the days when the people of the subcontinent would board a ship and make a pilgrimage to Mecca.” In reference to the journeys that took place either from Karachi or Mumbai in the days of yore, he said, “That was the only time when ships were actually used, more as a means of transport than for other entertainment purposes.”

However, Roy believes things can change for the better and says, “Some steps should be taken to do something about it.”

“I was able to bring Bryan Adams to Pakistan and his concert became a mega event in the city, but look what happened afterwards. Today, our own musicians are not able to perform on their own soil.”

Published in the Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2010.