Qatar gains valuable insights following Barcelona port visit
Sponsored by Qatar Tourism
Qatar Tourism representatives visited the port of Barcelona last month, meeting with local cruise officials as part of a valuable knowledge exchange exercise where parties shared best practices on services provided to visitors, cruise arrivals, as well as port security and safety systems
The three-day visit is part of efforts aimed at supporting Cruise Tourism in Qatar. It focuses on exchanging expertise and experiences, as well as enhancing the operational processes and logistical services necessary for the sector’s growth in the country.
The first day of the visit focused on exploring the cruise ship terminal and ships, where the Qatari delegation met with Spanish port officials to learn about operational systems, workload, and tourism activity levels at the port.
A portion of the program was centered around reviewing modern security measures, coordination between various port authorities (such as passports, customs, administration, and security), ship reservation procedures, and priority determination processes.
Omar Al Jaber, acting chief of tourism development sector at Qatar Tourism, said: “The State of Qatar has emerged as a leading global destination for cruise tourism, featuring prominently on popular cruise itineraries in the region.
“The significant growth in Qatar’s cruise tourism sector is a testament to the constructive cooperation and ongoing coordination with our partners. The recently concluded 2023-2024 Cruise Season was a resounding success in terms of both cruise ship visits and total visitor numbers.
“Our visit to Barcelona Port was aimed at gaining insights into the latest systems and services for enhancing the tourism experience for visitors arriving at Doha Port. This aligns with our commitment to continuously improve and innovate in order to offer memorable experiences to tourists visiting Qatar.”
A bright future awaits
When speaking at the beginning of last year’s winter sun season, which ran up until April 2024, Qatar Tourism chairman Saad Bin Ali Al Kharji cut a positive figure as he reflected on the country’s growing reputation as an exciting challenger cruise destination.
“Cruise tourism is an important pillar through which Qatar will fulfil its national tourism strategy to become one of the world’s leading destinations,” he said.
“Qatar’s cruise sector has grown strongly in less than a decade, owing to Qatar Tourism’s presence in international cruise and travel exhibitions, signed partnerships and agreements, investments in personnel and our collaboration with important public and private stakeholders in Qatar.”
Fast forward to today, and Qatar is reeling as it prepares for its biggest ever cruise season to date, with the number of confirmed cruise calls already 45 per cent up compared to last year.
“We look forward to a new cruise season with visitors from around the world who will have the opportunity to experience Qatar’s hospitality and diverse tourism offering,” Al Kharji added.
The World Cup legacy
Qatar, with its pristine Corniche and effervescent souqs, was on show for the world to see when the FIFA World Cup came to town in November 2022. A reported one million visitors travelled to this northeast corner of the Arabian Peninsula in just four weeks, with many, many more getting a glimpse of the country’s unique tourism proposition from home.
To handle the significant increase in visitors, the Qatari government invested big in its infrastructure. As well as building more than 100 new hotels and service apartments and constructing a state-of-the-art metro system, the multi-million-pound Grand Cruise Terminal was unveiled before the tournament kicked off, coinciding with naming ceremony of MSC Cruises’ largest ship, the 6,774-passenger World Europa.
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Cruise in Qatar: what’s on the horizon
There are some port terminals you simply can’t wait to see the back of. Qatar’s Grand Cruise Terminal is certainly not one of them.
With an 800-metre pier capable of fitting two large ships and handling 7,000 passengers – not to mention an art gallery and a spectacular wraparound aquarium – it’s impossible not to see Doha’s new port terminal is a statement of intent as the country looks to further establish itself as an irresistible cruise destination.
What’s new?
Located right on the Doha Corniche and a 40-minute walk from Museum of Islamic Art, the recently redeveloped port is a destination in itself, with events, local markets and exhibitions taking place throughout the winter cruising season.
Crucially, cruise-goers disembarking in Doha can reach the city’s top sites, from the Souq Waqif to the world-renowned museums, without needing to be part of a private pre-arranged tour, which is not always the case with other cruise destinations in the Gulf. Indeed, visitors can enjoy a pleasant coastal walk into Doha city centre or make use of the new metro system and many passengers do, with Qatar Tourism reporting that around 70 per cent of guests prefer striking out into the destination on their own accord.
Another new feature that will excite visitors is the Meryal Waterpark, home to two record-breaking waterslides, as well as a choice of adult- and child-friendly restaurants and retail outlets. Located around a 35-minute drive north of the city centre, visits to the waterpark will be incorporated in the shore excursions programme of numerous cruise lines this coming season.
Ship shape
Qatar’s 2024/25 cruise season is set to be its biggest yet, with a number of prestigious cruise lines bringing more passengers to the region than ever before. MSC Cruises and Celestyal, which recently increased its presence in the Arabian Gulf by 30 per cent with the addition of Celestyal Discovery, will have the largest presence in the region.
Meanwhile, Ponant will offer 10-night sailings on its boutique luxury ships between Doha and Muscat, Oman, calling at Khasab, Dubai and Bahrain along the way. Silversea, Norwegian Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas will also be operating in the region.
