Oman welcomes expansion of Cruise Arabia Alliance

The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, welcomed the regional expansion agreement of the Cruise Arabia Alliance with the joining of Cruise Saudi and Qatar Tourism. This step enhances the cruise tourism sector in the region and provides more advantages to establish the Gulf as a leading cruise tourism destination.

The agreement aims to utilise the full maritime potential and capabilities of the Gulf region as a sustainable global hub for cruise trips that connect many destinations. The Cruise Arabia Alliance brings partners together under a joint commitment to expand cruise tourism, develop infrastructure, enhance joint marketing initiatives, invest in ports, and establish standards for operational excellence and growth in all aspects of the cruise sector.

Azzan Qasim Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism, said that enhancing cooperation and the alliance with Cruise Arabia, along with the expansion of the countries joining it, will add efficient tourism mainstays to Oman’s cruise ship tourism sector.

Khalid Al Azri, Director of the Tourism Patterns Department at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, said that Oman constitutes a major maritime destination thanks to its strategic location, and seeks to form a sustainable and attractive maritime tourism sector for ships of all sizes, while continuously working to operate new routes.

The expanded Cruise Arabia Alliance highlights the commitment of all concerned parties in the GCC region to the growth of the marine tourism sector, especially in light of economic expansion, evolving lifestyles, and the increase in travel options for families and individuals, which in turn contributes to higher demand for cruise travel.

The partners aim to provide integrated services to enhance the sector, solidify a shared vision for the future of maritime tourism, and promote the region on the global stage.