The PIF- owned business updates the industry on the rapid expansion of the Kingdom’s cruise sector

Cruise saudi joins saudi tourism forum

photo_camera PHOTO/CRUISE SAUDI - The PIF- owned business updates the industry on the rapid expansion of the Kingdom’s cruise sector

Cruise Saudi participated as a gold sponsor in the recent Saudi Tourism Forum 2023, held in Riyadh between 14-16 March this year. A 100% Public Investment Fund-owned business, Cruise Saudi works hand in hand with ministries and regulatory authorities to build the offshore and onshore cruise ecosystem with the aim of positioning Saudi as a premier global cruise destination. 

Throughout the Forum, Cruise Saudi met with several public and private sector companies – an opportunity to update key industry contacts with the news and developments since Cruise Saudi launched in 2021. From the expansion of Saudi Arabia’s cruise infrastructure to the two successful completed seasons, Cruise Saudi’s rapid expansion in this vital sector has worked alongside the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 as an engine to drive the development of tourism, and to transform the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with its various regions and natural, historic and heritage treasures into a unique and distinctive destination on the global cruise map.

Cruise Saudi

Engineer Fawaz Farouqi praised the Forum and the fruitful cooperation of all public and private parties involved in the Tourism System in providing an exceptional experience for tourists visiting the Kingdom, thus reflecting their contribution to achieve Vision 2030 goals and broaden the horizons of the Saudi cruise sector. 

Cruise Saudi also organised an awareness workshop, delivered by Mashhour Bashan, the Executive Director for Travel Experiences, on (designing tours and experiences for cruise passengers), where he focused on introducing the cruise industry, and the importance of designing tours that meet the needs of tourists, the basic requirements in tourist destinations, expectations, challenges and the opportunities available in this new industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Cruise Saudi

With reference to audience participation in this workshop, Mashhour Bashan explained that “the cruise sector is a new industry for the Kingdom, it provides specific services, and our role in Cruise Saudi is to develop and enable the private sector. This workshop is one of several workshops on developing the sector to attract 1.3 million passengers by 2035”. 

As a conduit between land and sea, Cruise Saudi is a strategic facilitator and a trusted partner to international and local entities that oversees the development of services and infrastructure, including state-of-the-art cruise terminals, training of ground services, and creation of shore excursions, that will transform the country’s coastlines into a premier global cruise destination. Cruise Saudi aspires to provide a seamless, comfortable, and memorable journey for guests, from arrival to departure.

Cruise Saudi

Cruise Saudi was officially launched in 2021 to develop the infrastructure and services required to scale a full-suite cruise market in Saudi Arabia. The company is responsible for the port development and operation at key Saudi destinations as well as scaling cruise services, from marketing to Shorex coordination and vessel operations.  

Cruise Saudi is a 100% Public Investment Fund-owned business based in Jeddah and works hand in hand with ministries and regulatory authorities to build the offshore and onshore cruise ecosystem with the aim of positioning Saudi as a premier global cruise destination. Cruise Saudi has completed two successful seasons thus far, welcoming 50,000+ passengers and five major international cruise lines. 

Cruise Saudi

Cruise Saudi aims to develop further ports around the country, opening more destinations in Saudi to cruise tourism, with plans to welcome 1.3 million cruise passenger visits by 2035. Cruise Saudi is operating within the wider context of Saudi’s Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy and develop new revenue-generating industries such as tourism to provide opportunities for generations to come.

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