Qatar Tourism signs MoU with Mowasalat to create an improved tourism experience for visitors travelling to Qatar via cruise ships

In an effort to enhance the cruise ship tourism experience, Mowasalat (Karwa) and Qatar Tourism have inked a memorandum of agreement (MoU). The CEO of Mowasalat Company (Karwa), Fahad Saad Al-Qahtani, and Chairman of Qatar Tourism, HE Saad Bin Ali Al Kharji, signed the Memorandum of Understanding. With an emphasis on improving the cruise tourism sector in Qatar, the Memorandum of Understanding seeks to promote collaboration and coordination between the two organisations. Maintaining clear and open lines of communication, increasing cost effectiveness, and providing whatever assistance required to guarantee a successful future cruise season are important areas of partnership.

In order to enhance cooperation, Mowasalat will get tourism data from Qatar Tourism and prior notification of cruise ship arrival schedules, allowing for effective transportation service planning. Over the years, there has been a noticeable rise in the number of foreign tourists to Qatar's cruise industry. The current cruise season, which is slated to end in April 2024, is predicted to bring in 81 ship calls and over 350,000 passengers—double that of the previous season.

 4,525 cruise passengers arrived in October 2023 in Qatar, a rise credited to the nation's numerous events and attractions, such as Winter Wonderland, the F1® Qatar Grand Prix, and Expo 2023 Doha.

This season, Norwegian Dawn and Le Bougainville, two cruise ships that operate as full homeporting boats and depart from Doha, will make their debuts in Qatar. In addition, Mein Schiff 2, MSC Virtuosa, and the Italian cruise liner Costa Toscana will also keep providing partial turnaround services from Doha. In November 2023, eight ship visits are anticipated in Qatar.