Qatar to welcome 200,000 cruise...

50 cruise liners will dock in the country between now and the end of April 2023

Qatar Tourism (QT) and Mwani Qatar have forecasted that more than 50 cruise liners with approximately 200,000 passengers will visit Qatar in the first four months of 2023.

Cruise liner passengers will be welcomed at Doha Port’s newly designed cruise terminal, which pays homage to Arabian architecture.

The port recently housed international cruise vessels offering ‘floating accommodation’ for thousands of fans during last year’s FIFA World Cup tournament, including the MSC World Europa, MSC Opera and MSC Poesia.

Mina District, located by the port, is one of Qatar’s latest tourism destinations offering a wide range of restaurants and retail outlets, and for those wanting to explore the city, the port is situated within walking distance of some of Qatar’s most famous landmarks, including the National Museum of Qatar, Souq Waqif, Msheireb Downtown Doha and the Doha Corniche, where visitors can take in views of the city's skyline.

Commenting on the announcement, Qatar Tourism head of Tourism Product Support, Maryam Saoud said: “Qatar’s cruise sector has a history of less than a decade, yet the sector has grown tremendously and now contributes an important pillar to our tourism strategy.

"We’re seeing continued increasing preference for Qatar as a destination for both regular cruise calls and cruises with turnaround calls. Doha Port’s strategic location in the heart of the city offers our visitors an excellent opportunity to make the most out of their time in Doha. ”

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Mwani Qatar manager of Public Relations and Communications, Hamad Ali Al Ansari added: "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. 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 greater depths, we are now able to receive mega cruise vessels. Doha Port is being developed to become one of the main tourist attractions in the region.”

For more information, visit www.visitqatar.com