In the next few months, Qatar will see an increase of cruise ship arrivals at the new Grand Cruise Terminal in Doha, with over 50 calls and around 200,000 tourists.
During the FIFA World Cup, three MSC Cruises ships offered 'floating accommodation' for thousands of international fans at the newly designed Doha Port Cruise Terminal. The tournament included MSC World Europe, MSC Opera, and MSC Poesia.
The port, located in Mina District, is within walking distance of the city's attractions, including the Qatar National Museum, Souk Waqif, Msheireb Downtown Doha and the Doha Corniche.
Mariam Saoud, head of travel product support at Qatar Tourism, said: “Qatar's cruise sector has a history of less than a decade, but the sector has grown tremendously and now contributes to an important pillar of our tourism strategy. We see a continued, growing preference for Qatar as a destination for scheduled and return cruises.”
Hamad Ali Al Ansari, manager of Public Relations and Communications at Mwani Qatar, said: “Qatar continues to strengthen its position as a leading tourism destination in the region, in line with the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030. At Mwani Qatar, we are proud to work with our stakeholders and cruise lines to ensure that these goals are achieved and work toward making Qatar the most sought-after cruise destination in the region.”
He added: “As part of the renovation work undertaken in Doha Port’s infrastructure, and after further expanding and dredging the navigational channel and port docks to reach deeper depth, we are now able to receive mega cruise vessels. Indeed, Doha Port is being developed to become one of the main tourist attractions in the region.”
Al Ansari continued: “We look forward to another successful tourism season that will contribute to strengthening the cruise industry and maintaining Qatar’s position as a leading tourism hub in the region. In every cruise season, we always make sure that travellers are receiving the best services and the most enjoyable experiences in every step of their journey, and in a safe environment.”
