RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Red Sea Authority (SRSA) has issued the first maritime tourism agency license for cruise ships to Cruise Saudi, a Jeddah-based company owned by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.
The Maritime Tourism Agency License was handed over to Barbara Buchek, Chief Destination Experience Officer, Cruise Saudi, by Mohammed Bukhari, Vice President, Coastal Tourism Operations, SRSA, at Cruise Saudi’s headquarters in Jeddah.
This step marks an important milestone in the development of a promising coastal tourism sector and falls under the supporting role of SRSA. Licenses and permits help regulate coastal tourism activities within a geographical area, which in turn supports and encourages practitioners and investors in the coastal tourism sector.
The role of maritime tourism agents includes providing services to marine vessels such as yachts and cruise ships to conduct safe and sustainable marine navigational tourism activities, while the SRSA ensures that licensed maritime tourism agents facilitate the movement of marine vessels within the Kingdom’s waters and adhere to sustainable best standards and practices.
About the Saudi Arabian Red Sea Authority:
The Saudi Arabian Red Sea Authority (SRSA) was established by Cabinet decision in November 2021 with the aim of strengthening integration among relevant agencies through issuing licenses and permits, formulating necessary policies and strategies, determining infrastructure requirements, preserving the marine environment, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, and promoting navigation and marine tourism activities, thereby reflecting added value to the national economy.
About Cruise Saudi:
Cruise Saudi was established in 2021 to develop the infrastructure and services required to grow the full-suite cruise market in Saudi Arabia. The company has developed three strategic ports with the necessary infrastructure to host global cruise ships: Jeddah Islamic Port, Yanbu Commercial Port on the Red Sea, and King Abdul Aziz Port in Dammam on the Arabian Gulf. To date, Cruise Saudi has completed four successful seasons, seeing a significant increase in the number of global cruise ships visiting Saudi Arabian ports as well as an increase in international passenger numbers, welcoming more than 370,000 passengers from over 120 nationalities.
In June 2023, Cruise Saudi announced the launch of AROYA Cruises, a company-owned cruise line designed and tailored to reflect the brand values of inspiration, abundance, generosity and respect. As Arabia’s first cruise line, AROYA Cruises is proud to lead the way in offering guests amazing Arabian experiences at sea and on land.
