Doha, Qatar: To elevate the standards of marine tourism in the country, Qatar Tourism has announced updates to the regulations governing marine tourism transport. This includes the licensing of marine tourism offices and all categories of marine transport vessels, categorized as A, B, and C.

The new regulations align with international best practices and are outlined in the recently issued classification guide for marine tourism transport vehicles. This guide details the technical requirements and specifications that vessel owners and operators must meet to ensure compliance. The updates are in accordance with the Tourism Regulation Law No. (20) of 2018.

Under the new guidelines, Category A vessels, which are limited to short trips within the Corniche area, must adhere to the standards set forth in Version 1.1 of the 2024 Classification Guide. Those that do not comply will be barred from operating or docking in the Doha Corniche area until all requirements are fulfilled. Categories B and C, which include boats for longer trips and luxury vessels offering accommodation and meals, must be operated by licensed tourism companies.

Marine tourism transport office owners and vessel operators are required to ensure compliance with the new regulations by August 25th, 2024, with a three-month grace period provided for all categories.

Fahad Hassan Al Abdelmalek, Director of Tourism Licensing at Qatar Tourism, emphasized the collaborative effort behind the initiative. "In coordination with the relevant authorities, including the Private Engineering Office, the Ministry of Transport, the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security, and the Ministry of Municipality, it has been decided to adopt procedures and standards for practicing tourist maritime transport. These standards are designed for marine means of transport designated for carrying tourists on sea trips and have been developed in accordance with the best global principles and standards. This initiative aims to enhance transparency, unify the sector, support Qatar's maritime strategy, and advance service excellence across the country, ultimately providing an exceptional and safe experience for users of these services," he stated.

Through these efforts, Qatar Tourism is reinforcing its commitment to the 2030 tourism strategy, aimed at diversifying the country's tourism offerings and boosting visitor spending, thereby strengthening Qatar's global presence in the tourism sector.