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Qatar announces easier entry for cruisers as 32 ships head to Doha

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Island Sky at Doha Port (Photo: Qatar Tourism Authority)
With more than 50,000 cruise passengers expected to arrive at the country’s ports, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), in co-ordination with the Ministry of Interior and Qatar Ports Management Co. – Mwani Qatar, announced new measures to ease entry.

Thanks to enhanced technology and close collaboration between cruise operators and security officials, cruise passengers will be able to disembark within minutes and begin their shore excursions.

As part of the new operating procedure, a manifest containing passport details of passengers and crew will be shared with immigration officials 48 hours in advance of a ship’s arrival. This will allow immigration officials to process relevant information and clear passengers for entry before the ship berths.

In addition, QTA and the Ministry of Interior have confirmed that cruise passengers, due to the short duration of their stay, will be eligible for transit visas, which will further ease their entry into the country.

According to Hassan Al Ibrahim, chief tourism development officer at QTA, the new procedures have been introduced in anticipation of significant increases in cruise numbers. While Qatar has previously welcomed smaller ships carrying fewer than a thousand passengers, the coming season will be the first with larger ships of more than 1,500 passengers each. MSC Fantasia will be the first of those to arrive, in December, with an expected 3,900 passengers and 1,500 crew.

'Cruise tourism forms an important part of our strategy to increase the number of visitor arrivals to Qatar. That is why we are placing great emphasis on streamlining all processes related to cruise as well as developing the sector’s capacity to welcome a large number of passengers,' Al Ibrahim said.

'Studies show that once tourists have had a taste of a destination that they visited on a cruise, they are likely to return for a longer visit later, giving us further impetus to focus our strategy for the next two years on this important sub-sector of tourism,' he added.

Currently cruise ships spend, on average, eight hours in Qatar, so it is important to minimise the time spent on formalities on the day of their visit.

Al Ibrahim expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Interior for their initiative and support in implementing a solution that will 'ensure our visitors get the most out of their visit without compromising on our nation’s security.'

'The Ministry of Interior always strives to facilitate government services while maintaining the utmost vigilance and security, for the sake of visitors and residents,' said Brig. Gen. Abdullah Salim Al-Ali, director general, General Directorate of Nationality, Borders and Expatriates Affairs.

The announcement comes as QTA and the Ministry of Interior step up efforts to facilitate entry for tourists in a bid to increase visitor arrivals. Qatari officials recently signed an agreement with VFS Global that will soon allow for a fast-tracked and transparent tourist visa application process.

Thirty-two ships carrying more than 50,000 passengers are expected to arrive in Qatar this cruise season, which continues until April. The first ship is expected Oct. 18 at Doha Port in the heart of Qatar’s capital.

Meanwhile, QTA is continuing to work with destination management companies and tour guides to ensure passengers receive a warm welcome and have an authentic Qatari experience during their stays. Guides have received intensive training on the management of large groups and effective communications about the destination.