QTA, TUI Cruises Sign Agreement

Doha, May 08 (QNA) - Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has announced an agreement with TUI Cruises through which the German cruise line will be including Qatar in its itineraries for the 2017-2018 season, bringing seven cruise ships with up to 17,500 visitors to the country. The agreement between QTA and TUI Cruises comes as a result of discussions started at the Sea trade Europe Forum held in Hamburg in 2015 and puts Qatar on track to achieve its target of 250,000 visitors on board cruise ships in 2019. Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qatar) has confirmed the berthing schedule for the cruise ships. QTA is working closely with Mwani Qatar to expand the various elements of the country's cruise industry, in particular, Doha Port, which will be undergoing redevelopment to transform it into a full-time cruise terminal and tourist attraction. "Cruise tourism in Qatar provides huge opportunities for the growth of the country's overall tourism industry and is central to the realization of the Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030," said QTA chief tourism development officer Hassan Al Ibrahim. He added: "The commitment of TUI Cruises to include Qatar in its 2017-2018 itineraries is testament to the significant development that the sector is undergoing and gives us an encouraging boost as we continue to pursue other major cruise lines." He said Qatar is set to receive between 35 to 40 ships in the upcoming 2016-2017 cruise season, bringing in an expected 55,000 passengers. This provides new and untapped investment opportunities for businesses to develop tourism products and services that cater to the cruise visitors. TUI Cruises has planned for Mein Schiff 5 ship to dock in Qatar. The ship is approximately 294 metres long, has 15 decks and the capacity to carry up to 2,506 passengers on two persons per cabin basis. Mein Schiff 5 is also known for being an energy-efficient ship, consuming around 30 percent less energy than comparable cruise liners thanks to an advanced energy management system. Additionally, the ship is equipped with a modern exhaust cleaning system, which makes it to one of the most environmental-friendly cruise ships worldwide. "Qatar is a very fascinating destination for TUI Cruises. With its vibrant mix of modernity and history, Qatar has a lot to experience for our guests. We are looking forward to having a close collaboration with QTA," said Wybcke Meier, CEO, TUI Cruises. TUI Cruises is a Germany-based, Joint venture cruise line of the German Tourist firm, TUI AG and the American cruise line operator, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. The company started operations in 2009 and is marketed for German-speaking customers who opt for premium cruise experience. (QNA)