Qatar to get 430k cruisers in 6 months

Qatar is expected to welcome more than 430,000 cruise travellers from November 2024 to April 2025. During the season, renowned cruise ships, such as Minechef 4, MSC Eurebia, Aida Prima, Costa Esmeralda, Norwegian Sky and Celestial Journey, will dock at Doha Port, reinforcing Qatar’s growing position as a leading global cruise tourism destination.

TT Bureau

Qatar Tourism has launched cruise season 2024-25 with the arrival of its luxury cruise ship, Resorts World One. The luxury cruise ship is expected to become the largest in the history of the industry, with 95 cruises, including 33 partial turnovers, 11 departure and return flights, and four flights arriving in Qatar for the first time. Resorts World One has launched its first voyage to Qatar and is scheduled to make 23 scheduled visits, carrying 72,000 visitors.

Qatar is expected to welcome more than 430,000 visitors from November 2024 to April 2025. During the season, renowned cruise ships, such as Minechef 4, MSC Eurebia, Aida Prima, Costa Esmeralda, Norwegian Sky and Celestial Journey, will dock at Doha Port, reinforcing Qatar’s growing position as a leading global cruise tourism destination.

Building on the success of the previous cruise season (2023-24), during which Qatar welcomed 73 cruise ships and more than 347,000 visitors, the new season is expected to continue the pace of growth witnessed by the cruise sector, with a new record performance expected. During the previous season, Doha Port welcomed world-renowned vessels, such as MSC Vertusa, Seaborne Encore, Aida Prima, Artania, Minechef 2, Azamara Gerney, MS Riviera, MS Hamburg and Norway Down.

His Excellency Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, President, Qatar Tourism, said: “Stimulating the growth of Qatar’s cruise sector is a key component of our National Tourism Strategy 2030, and the 2024-25 cruise season is expected to see a 30 per cent increase in the total number of vessels, as well as a 24.5 per cent increase in the total number of visitors compared to the previous season, reflecting the growing demand for cruises in the region. With new partnerships and the increasing number of international cruise ships visiting our shores, Qatar continues to strengthen its position as a leading destination for cruise passengers from around the world.”

His Excellency Captain Abdulla Mohammed Al Khanji, Chief Executive Officer, Mwani Qatar, said: “Following last season’s record level of visitors, we look forward to welcoming another record number of visitors from around the world and reinforcing Qatar’s position as a leading cruise destination, as Doha Port stands ready to ensure an unforgettable experience for visitors to 95 scheduled cruises during the new season 2024-25. The significant growth in the number of visitors and cruises confirms the growing interest of cruise operators in docking at Doha Port and reflects Qatar’s position as a major cruise destination in the region. We are proud to work alongside Qatar Tourism and stakeholders to maximise the growth of Qatar’s cruise tourism sector and strengthen its global footprint in the travel industry, in line with the National Tourism Strategy 2030.”