Qatar Tourism and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) UK & Ireland have announced a partnership that will enhance Qatar’s brand awareness across the region and with CLIA’s wider community of cruise lines, travel agents and stakeholders.

As part of the partnership, Qatar Tourism will be one of the main headline sponsors of the CLIA Selling Cruise Day on November 4, 2021 in Southampton and will also sponsor the annual CLIA Cruise Forum in December 2021.

An extensive tourism development is under way in Qatar as the country works to diversify and build upon its offerings and broaden its appeal for visitors ahead of and beyond the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and achieve its long term goal of becoming a world-class destination and welcome more than six million visitors a year by 2030. A host of new hotels and hotel apartments, activities, theme parks, shopping malls and major projects have recently opened or are currently under construction, ensuring travellers will enjoy the very best of Qatar.

As of July 12, 2021, Qatar re-opened its borders to fully vaccinated international travellers by vaccines approved for use by the Ministry of Public Health. Qatar’s re-opening is a major milestone for the country, gearing up to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 next year.

Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Ireland Managing Director, said: “We’re very excited to welcome Qatar Tourism to the CLIA family. Their support for the trade is a clear indication they are looking to build positive cruise momentum. The region was proving increasingly popular with cruisers and we’re all looking forward to seeing ships start visiting the exceptional facilities of the Doha port and its surroundings again.”

Chief Operating Officer of Qatar Tourism, Berthold Trenkel, said: “As Qatar has re-opened its borders, we are looking forward to welcoming back cruise travellers from around the globe. Qatar is a fantastic destination for every type of traveller. It is the safest and one of the most cosmopolitan destinations in the Middle East, rich in art, culture and tradition. With a range of assets including world class hotels, restaurants, stunning beaches and a bustling atmosphere, we offer the best of the Middle East all in one place.

“Adventure-seekers can enjoy the thrill of dune bashing across the desert, cultural enthusiasts can explore our world-famous museums and galleries, and there is a variety of fine dining options serving local and international cuisine to suit all tastes. Qatar defies expectations.”

In 2019/2020, Qatar welcomed 207,000 cruise visitors to Doha. With the Doha port undergoing a multi-million-pound refurbishment recently, the destination has set its sights on meeting and exceeding this number moving forward in the 2021/2022 season, starting November.