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A Qatari delegation comprising five government and private sector parties led by the Ministry of Transport and Communication, Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC), and Qatar Ports, participated in the Seatrade Cruise Global Expo and Conference, which concluded in Miami, US recently.
Considered one of the largest and most significant events in the global cruise industry calendar, the Seatrade Cruise Global expo provides a valuable opportunity to directly promote cruise destinations, network with partners from around the world, and conclude agreements and deals with global cruise lines.
This year the participants from over 130 countries included more than 11,000 cruise industry leaders and 700 exhibitors. 
Qatar’s delegation to the conference also visited Cruise Terminal A in Miami Port, considered globally to be a model cruise port.
The delegation examined the facilities and services provided to passengers and cruise ships, taking note of the standards to be applied as Qatar develops its own temporary cruise terminals in Doha Port.

“Seatrade Cruise Global is a great platform for sector leaders and key universal cruise operators to know Qatar’s potentials and resources, which qualify it to be among their cruise programs,” said Mr. Mohammed Al-Mutawa, Maritime Transport Services Quality Director at the Ministry of Transport and Communications.   

The Doha Port, he said, plays a key role in boosting Qatar’s ranking as an attractive tourist destination in the region through receiving global cruise ships and providing a full range of resources and this helps in the growth of such a key sector, thus achieving economic diversity, which is one of Qatar National Vision 2030’s top goals.

“Doha Port’s growing role is a reflection of a comprehensive development operation that aims to transform it into a unique integrated tourism hub in the region. Dredging works to deepen its channel have lately completed and this bolsters its capacity to accommodate the world’s largest cruise ships.”

He hailed the roles played by Mwani Qatar, the National Tourism Council and stakeholders. He also emphasized that all the concerned bodies pay a great attention to providing topnotch services to cruise ships, plus all the necessary facilitations to ensure flexible passage and departure. This would contribute to making it a cruise hub in the region for inbound and outbound cruises.

These temporary terminals will serve cruise passengers over the next few seasons until the full-time and permanent terminal is complete in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Capt Abdulla al-Khanji, CEO, Mwani Qatar, said, “We are very pleased with the significant successes that have been achieved in securing Qatar’s place on the global cruise map in the region and we look forward to further success in the coming seasons with our commitment to harnessing all logistical and technical capabilities and ensuring better service to our visitors in collaboration with all stakeholders.”
He added, “The important developments come at a time we are improving infrastructure and building the necessary facilities at Doha Port, which will become Qatar’s gateway to marine tourism as part of the Ministry of Transport and Communications strategic plan aimed at supporting Qatar’s marine tourism sector and enhance economic diversification in line with Qatar National Vision 2030”
He noted that Mwani Qatar’s participation in Seatrade Cruise Global, along with the Ministry of Transport and Communications and QNTC has provided an ample opportunity to get a closer look at the latest experiences and best practices in the cruise industry and to hold fruitful meetings with a number of operators of cruise ships and ports around the world.
Rashed al-Qurese, chief marketing officer, QNTC, commented, “We are working with our partners at the Ministry of Transport and Communication, Mwani, Qatar Airways, and the various destination management companies to move to the next level in the development of the cruise industry, which will see Qatar emerging as a turnaround port for cruise ships during the 2019/2020 winter season.
Maritime Transport Services Quality Director at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Mohamed al-Mutawa, commented: “Seatrade Cruise Global is a great platform for sector leaders and key universal cruise operators to know Qatar’s potential and its resources, which qualify it to be featured in their cruise itineraries.
Doha Port plays a key role in boosting Qatar’s ranking as an attractive tourist destination in the region through receiving cruise ships from around the world and providing a full range of resources.
This helps in the growth of such a key sector, thus achieving the economic diversity that is one of Qatar National Vision 2030s top goals.”
He added, “Doha Port’s growing role is a reflection of a comprehensive development operation that aims to transform it into a unique integrated tourism hub in the region. Dredging works to deepen its channel have been recently completed and this bolsters its capacity to accommodate the worlds largest cruise ships.”
Al-Mutawa also hailed the roles played by Mwani Qatar, Qatar National Tourism Council and other stakeholders in converting Doha Port into a cruise hub in the region for inbound and outbound cruises, emphasising that all concerned parties pay great attention to providing high quality services to cruise ships, as well as all the necessary facilitations to ensure flexible passage and departure.
The cruise industry is one of six tourism segments which the National Tourism Sector Strategy focuses on.
It is also one of the fastest growing tourism segments, with Qatar seeing a 39% increase in the number of cruise passengers in 2017/2018. Growth is expected to double this season.
Ahead of the 2018/2019 season, QNTC signed a number of co-operation agreements, including with Germany’s Aida Cruises and Italy’s Costa Cruises.