Qatar’s tourism sector is set to witness record number of cruise tourists in the current cruise season. This was evident when a new cruise passenger terminal was inaugurated at Doha Port as thousands of passengers disembarked from the megaship Mein Schiff 5, ushering in Qatar’s fourth and largest cruise tourism season.
Spread over 6,000 square meters, the new facility will act as a temporary terminal for the next two seasons until the completion of Doha Port’s expansion plan in 2022. With 3,350 passengers aboard, Mein Schiff 5 is the first of 74 ships expected this season which equates to a 66% increase in the number of ships from last season. MSC Lirica, AIDA Prima, Seabourn Encore, Crystal Esprit, Costa Diadema, Seabourn Ovation, Azamara Quest are among major luxury cruise ships that will bring tourists to Qatari shores this season. MSC Bellissima and Jewel of the Seas will mark their maiden voyage to Qatar.
The cruise season runs from September to April in Qatar.
The government’s focused measures for the tourism sector and Mwani Qatar’s efforts to bring in major cruise liners to Qatar are the major factors behind country’s booming cruise tourism sector. Doha Port’s passenger terminal infrastructure is being developed to bring it in line with international passenger terminals in anticipation of further volume growth leading to FIFA World Cup 2022. As a result of various initiatives by Qatar National Tourism Council and its partners, Qatar’s cruise industry has seen remarkable growth during the last few years.
The 2018/19 season achieved 121 percent growth in the number of cruise passengers and 100 percent growth in the number of cruise ships, with over 140,000 passengers arriving aboard 44 ships, including 38 mega ships, which typically carry between 3,000 and 4,000 passengers and crew. Last season also recorded significant increases in the numbers of German (144 percent), Italian (93 percent) and British (22.5 percent) tourists arriving aboard cruise ships compared to the 2017/18 season.
Added to the list were Russian tourists, whose numbers grew significantly by 257 percent in Qatar as a cruise destination compared to the previous season, making them the fourth largest nationality. The top ten nationalities aboard cruise ships also included Americans and Mexicans. The 2019/20 season is expected to be even bigger, with over 186,000 passengers and over 61,000 crew arriving on Qatari shores.
Cruise passengers transiting through Doha Port’s new terminal will experience the same level of services and facilities as Hamad International Airport including seamless immigration and customs, foreign exchange, taxi and bus stands, duty free shops, cafe, waiting areas for cruise passengers and staff as well as city tours and other tourist information services.
The record-breaking number of tourist arrival has confirmed Doha Port’s important role in boosting marine tourism revenues and transforming Qatar into a regional cruise hub.
