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Tribune News Network
Doha
With a three-fold increase in the number of ship calls expected over the next three years, the Qatar's cruise industry is on course to generate over QR350 million per annum by 2026, according to Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) projections.
In a statement, the QTA said it is working with partners to plan, develop and manage the cruise terminal facilities, infrastructure and operations needed to achieve this growth.
"Projections show that the cruise industry has the potential to generate over QAR350 million per annum by 2026 once all developments are completed," it said.
QTA organised a ceremony attended by members of the cruise tourism industry to celebrate the end of the 2016-17 season, which concluded last month with remarkable growth in both the numbers of ships and passengers.
QTA said more than 47,000 passengers and crew arrived on Qatar's shore, marking over 1000 percent increase in arrivals.
The visitors arrived on Qatar shores on board 22 cruise ships and one mega-yacht, an increase of 120 percent over the last season.
The top ten nationalities that have visited Qatar aboard cruise ships are British, followed by Italian, Spanish, German, Belgian, French, Swiss, American, Brazilian and Irish.
Hassan al Ibrahim, Chief Tourism Development Officer at QTA, said:"In addition to being our busiest season to date, this was also a season of many firsts, with Qatar welcoming its first mega-ship, and two cruise ships docking simultaneously in Doha port for the first time. And, this season was the first time that cruise tourists were able to benefit from a new, streamlined disembarkation process, and the newly introduced free 96-hour transit visa."
"None of this would have been possible without all of our partners. On behalf of QTA, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to all of you for your hard work, support and the collaborative spirit you have shown throughout the season."
In collaboration with partners at the Ministry of Transport & Communications, Mwani Qatar Ports Management Company, preparations are under way to upgrade Doha Port this year. Once complete, the port will be a world-class cruise ship hub and a tourist destination in the heart of Doha, helping to position the country as a turnaround port by the 2018/19 cruise season.
QTA and Mwani have confirmed that Doha Port will continue to welcome cruise ships in the 2017-18 season.
