The Scenic Eclipse docked at
Aqaba on Sunday, carrying an
assemblage of Saudi businessmen. This is the second cruise ship to depart Saudi
shores for Aqaba since pandemic restrictions have been eased. The Agence
France-Presse reported on Saturday that "super cruise ship MSC Bellissima had
departed
Saudi Arabia for the first time on Friday, setting sail for regional
waters as Saudi seeks to expand its tourism industry and diversify its oil-dependent
economy."
اضافة اعلان
Deputy Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Aqaba
Special Economic Zone Authority Sharhabeel Madi told
Jordan News that
the importance of the Scenic Eclipse trip lies in the fact that it is the first
marine tourism line of its kind, which is set to serve Saudi Arabia, Jordan,
and Egypt. It also brings hope for Aqaba’s tourism sector, said Madi. The
Scenic Eclipse will mark the onset of tourism integration among Arab countries
on the Red Sea, creating new and different tourism products and stimulating a
tourism movement to benefit these countries, he added.
Madi pointed out that, as part of their itinerary, Saudi
businessmen on board the ship will visit Wadi Rum and Petra, take helicopter
trips to Petra, participate in submarine diving trips, take individual diving
lessons in cooperation with diving clubs in Aqaba, and visit the Ayla Oasis,
among other activities.
Director of Gargour Shipping Company's operations Abdul
Rahman Ali told
Jordan News that the Eclipse is the first to carry Saudi
businessmen on a tourist trip.
The ship is equipped with a submarine for deep-sea
exploration trips, two helicopters, small boats that are used to transport
passengers at sea, and marine games and sports such as boats and paddle boards,
according to Ali.
Ali added that the ship will make nine visits to
Aqaba in the remaining months of 2021 with an average of one trip every 10 days.
Each trip should last no more than 15 hours. The director also noted that the
first trip carried more than 85 tourists, most of whom are Saudi, as well as more
than 170 crew members. All passengers had received the vaccine and showed negative
PCR tests before boarding the ship. The number of tourists, according to Ali,
is expected to rise with each trip.
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