Tourism Breaking News
Qatar Tourism has launched its new cruise season 2024/2025, with the arrival of the luxury cruise ship Resorts World One, which 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 4 flights arriving in Qatar for the first time. The luxury cruise ship 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 Euribia, 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 theprevious cruise season 2023/2024, during which Qatar welcomed 73 cruise ships and more than 347,000 visitors, the new season is expected to continue the pace of growth in the cruise sector with a new record performance. During the previous season, Doha Port welcomed world-renowned vessels such as MSC Vertusa , Seaborne Encore, Aida Prima, Artania, Minechef 2, Azamara Journey and MS Rivera. and MS Hamburg and Norwegian Down.
H.E. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, President of Qatar Tourism, said: “Stimulating the growth of Qatar’s cruise sector is a key component of our National Tourism Strategy 2030, and the 2024/2025 cruise season is expected to see a 30% increase in the total number of vessels, as well as a 24.5% 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.”
H.E. Captain Abdulla Mohammed Al Khanji, Chief Executive Officer of MowanY 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 2024/2025. 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 maximize 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.”
The Grand Cruise Terminal at Doha Port is strategically located just minutes away from Qatar’s most famous landmarks and attractions such as the National Museum of Qatar and Souq Waqif, supporting the tourist experiences for visitors arriving on board ships and allowing them to make the most of their time within the city.
Qatar Tourism is seeking to strengthen its cooperation with more international cruise lines, which is vital to stimulate growth in the tourism sector and support efforts to diversify Qatar’s national economy.
