(MENAFN- Gulf Times) A delegation from Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) heads to the German city of Hamburg today to participate in the Seatrade Europe Cruise and River Cruise Convention.
Led by chief tourism development officer Hassan al-Ibrahim, QTA will take part in the three-day convention, which incorporates high-level conference sessions, a showcase exhibition and workshops.
The event also includes a packed networking programme that brings together over 4,000 participants from various sectors involved in the European cruise industry, from investors and decision-makers to ship builders and outfitters.
QTA also joins Qatar International Adventures, Gulf Adventures and Regency Tours in an exhibition stand dedicated to the Cruise Arabia Alliance to showcase Qatar's offerings as a cruise destination.
The delegation will take advantage of the biennial event, considered one of the most popular on the cruise and maritime calendar, to promote Seatrade Middle East Cruise Forum. Slated for December, this forum will be held for the first time in Qatar as part of the efforts to develop and raise the profile of its cruise industry.
The event in Qatar will receive 20 senior executives from the global cruise industry, including renowned companies such as Royal Caribbean, Cunard, Costa Cruises, TUI Cruises and Silversea.
"With investments in European cruise lines growing to 6.6bn euros, this is an ideal platform to benefit from international experiences and witness best practices in the field," al-Ibrahim said.
"Qatar's increasing involvement in the Seatrade forum series is a reflection of the country's rising profile at the GCC level as a key contributor to the strengthening of the cruise industry in the region," he explained. "This is part of creating new opportunities for cruise lines through our participation in the Cruise Arabia Alliance along with Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Oman."
Al-Ibrahim noted that the cruise industry in the Gulf has seen a 20% growth over the past year, as travellers learn about the new and unique experiences the region offers over traditional cruise lines such as those covering the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.
"This convention allows us to showcase our increased activity in this area and shed light on Qatar as a budding destination that is enabling the growth of the sector," he added.
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