Reading Time: 2 minutes

Qatar Tourism visits Barcelona Port to exchange expertise and insights, focusing on enhancing operational excellence and adopting international best practices.

A Qatari delegation consisting of members from Qatar Tourism, the Permanent Committee for the Management of Maritime Ports, Mwani, and the General Authority of Customs recently undertook an official visit to the tourist port of Barcelona, Spain. The purpose of their visit was to engage with the management team of the Spanish port, aiming to gain insights into best practices, operational workflows, visitor services, cruise ship handling, and the port’s security and safety protocols.

The three-day visit is part of an initiative to bolster Cruise Tourism in Qatar, focusing on the exchange of expertise and the enhancement of operational and logistical services essential for the sector’s growth in the country.

On the first day, the Qatari delegation toured the cruise ship terminal and vessels, engaging with Spanish port officials to understand their operational systems, workload management, and tourism activity levels. Part of the program included a thorough review of modern security measures, coordination between various port authorities ship reservation procedures, and priority determination processes.

A joint workshop at the port united the Qatari delegation with Barcelona Port officials. The workshop offered valuable insights into passenger entry and exit systems, alongside innovative solutions for managing tourist flows efficiently at one of Spain’s key landmarks. Additionally, a comparative analysis was conducted between the procedures and efficiency of the Spanish Port and Doha Port.

Mr. Omar Al Jaber, Acting Chief of Tourism Development Sector at Qatar Tourism, commented on the visit: “The State of Qatar has emerged as a leading global destination for cruise tourism, featuring prominently on popular cruise itineraries in the region. The significant growth in Qatar’s cruise tourism sector is a testament to the constructive cooperation and ongoing coordination with our partners. The recently concluded 2023-2024 Cruise Season was a resounding success in terms of both cruise ship visits and total visitor numbers.

He continued: “Our visit to Barcelona Port was aimed at gaining insights into the latest systems and services for enhancing the tourism experience for visitors arriving at Doha Port. This aligns with our commitment to continuously improve and innovate in order to offer memorable experiences to tourists visiting Qatar.”

Doha Port has transformed into a key hub for international cruise ships, particularly after significant recent developments. These enhancements include the creation of a major passenger reception facility, allowing the port to accommodate two large ships simultaneously and manage around 12,000 people daily.

The cruise industry is now a vital part of Qatar Tourism’s strategy, showing strong growth rates in recent years. In the 2023-2024 season alone, Doha Port received 73 ships.