The cruise ship ASTORIA GRANDE has docked at Aqaba's cruise ship terminal for the first time, carrying approximately 670 tourists, most of them Russian nationals, along with 354 crew members.
اضافة اعلان
The arrival strengthens Aqaba's presence on international cruise itineraries and supports efforts to diversify the tourism markets targeted by the city.
The vessel arrived in Aqaba from the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh and is scheduled to remain overnight before departing tomorrow for Hurghada, as part of its cruise journey to the Turkish city of Antalya.
Murad Shehadeh, Head of the Data and Tourism Services Section at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), said the ship's first arrival reflects the authority's efforts to boost tourism activity, expand the city's access to international tourism markets and attract more cruise calls.
He said these efforts aim to strengthen Aqaba's position as a tourist destination on the regional and international tourism map.
Shehadeh noted that the vessel is expected to return to Aqaba next year, reflecting the possibility of including the city in its future cruise itineraries and creating opportunities for continued arrivals from the markets targeted by these voyages.
He added that the ship's arrival, bringing both tourists and crew members, provides an additional opportunity to stimulate tourism activity in Aqaba and increase the benefits for tourism-related sectors, including transport, commercial services and tourism facilities.
It also offers greater opportunities to showcase the city's tourism attractions and Jordan's wider range of tourist destinations.
Cruise tourism holds strategic importance for strengthening Aqaba's competitiveness, given its location on the Red Sea and its potential to connect regional and international tourist destinations.
Attracting cruise operators and expanding their itineraries to include Aqaba is therefore an important way to boost tourism activity and diversify the sources of the local economy.
