Doha: Qatar Tourism recently participated in the Seatrade Cruise Global 2021 exhibition and conference hosted in Miami. A delegation comprising four government and private agencies represented the country.
Spearheaded by Qatar Tourism and Mwani Qatar, the Qatari delegation included representatives from Doha Bus and Al Tawfeeq Travel & Tourism.
A growth sub-sector of tourism for Qatar, cruise is expected to be especially vibrant during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, with Doha Port undergoing a comprehensive redevelopment transforming it into a main hub for cruise ships. The Qatari delegation explored the latest technologies, experiences, and practices that will help aid the recovery of the cruise sector.
Representatives from Qatar Tourism met with several cruise liners, including Emerald Cruises, Silversea Cruises, TUI Cruises, Atlas Ocean Voyages, Azamara Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival Maritime. The state of the sector was discussed, along with updates regarding each liner’s plans moving forward. Qatar Tourism promoted Doha as a homeport, addressed crafting itineraries for luxury and small discovery ships within Qatar’s waters while providing updates on the development of Doha Port and the destination itself.
Berthold Trenkel from Qatar Tourism said: “We are very pleased to participate in Sea Trade Cruise Global 2021 alongside our most prominent strategic partners in the sector. It was an important opportunity to learn more about the latest developments in the marine tourism industry, and a chance to promote Qatar as a destination with world class infrastructure and renowned services, especially in the cruise tourism sector.”
He added: “We look forward to welcoming cruise ships to Doha Port once again, and are committed to working with our partners in the public and private sectors. As we continue to develop our offerings and ensure visitor experiences are grounded in Service Excellence, we aim to achieve better results in upcoming seasons and return to positive growth rates.”
Captain Hussain Ahmad Al Maqeef, Mwani Qatar’s Executive Vice President Commercial, said: “Our presence at the Seatrade Cruise Global 2021 enabled us to learn about the latest developments in the cruise industry and to have fruitful meetings with our partners from all over the world. It also enabled us to shed light on the latest developments related to the development of Doha Port facilities, which will become an integrated luxury cruise and leisure yacht terminal in the region.
“We are very pleased with the significant successes that have been achieved in securing Qatar’s place on the global cruise map in the region, and we look forward to furthering success in the coming seasons with our commitment to harnessing all logistical and technical capabilities at Doha Port and ensuring better services and experiences to our visitors in collaboration with all stakeholders.”
The Seatrade Cruise Global 2021 Exhibition and Conference, which took place from 27 to 30 September 2021, showcased the latest trends in the cruise tourism industry. Seatrade Cruise Global hosted more than 700 exhibiting companies from all sectors, including Ports & Destinations, Ship Equipment & shipbuilding, Entertainment, Environment & Health, hospitality, Information Technology, and much more.
