(MENAFN- The Peninsula) joelyn baluyut |
The Peninsula
Doha: With the new cruise season having a solid start, Qatar tourism (QT) said the cruise industry is gradually returning to pre-COVID-19 levels.
The cruise industry has significantly increased Qatar's tourism sector since its comeback in 2021/2022.
Qatar Tourism Head of Tourism Product Support, Maryam Saoud, told The Peninsula that the cruise tourism is slowly bouncing back after the pandemic.“We're slowly getting there. There is still guidance to follow, and we need to make sure that procedures are there.
“The cruise season stopped because of COVID-19, but we've been working along with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), and our strategic stakeholders to make sure that both passengers on board and the local community are safe - we overcame that challenge, and now we have cruise protocol that was announced and approved by MoPH, and it's being implemented since then.”
Moreover, she explained that this cruise season is“off to a solid start with the latest expansion in our portfolio of cruise liners a testimony to our growth and diversification.”
Since December, Saoud revealed that they have welcomed 8,000 visitors, mostly from Italy and Russia. In December last year, Doha Port received two cruise ships – Le Bougainville and MSC World Europa.
For the first two weeks of the month, from January 2 to 18, several cruise ships docked at the Doha Port including Le Bougainville, Artania, MSC World Europa, Costa Toscana, AIDAcosma, and Emerald Azzura. Mwani Qatar said that a total of 58 cruise ships and four cruise liner maiden calls will make their way to Qatar.
By the conclusion of this cruise season, or until April, Mwani Qatar and Qatar Tourism anticipate 200,000 passengers, which is twice as many as the previous season 2021/2022, which saw 100,500 travellers.
Asked if there is a possibility for locals to get a day pass for the cruise ships docked like during the World Cup, Saoud said that the previous agreement was with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), and not with Qatar Tourism.
Last year, three cruise ships from MSC Cruises Group namely MSC World Europa, MSC Poesia and MSC Opera served as floating hotels for visiting local and international fans during the biggest sporting event.
Meanwhile, from Thursday until January 28, cruise passengers will be treated to a spectacular view of vibrant hot air balloons as the third Qatar Balloon Festival will be held at the external green area of Doha Port, just in front of the Grand Cruise Terminal – the entry and exit point of the cruise travellers.