21 Feb 2010
(MENAFN) The Omani government announced that it has opened the Sultanate’s
first terminal for cruise passengers at Port Sultan Qaboos with an estimated investment of $7 million, The Oman Observer reported.
It is hoped the new building, which boasts a reception check-in, information centre, cafeteria, internet café, and restroom facilities, will boost the sultanate’s reputation as a stop-over point for cruise ships.
Passengers are processed through immigration, customs and health quarantine formalities on the ground floor, where there are also the offices of the Tourism Ministry, shipping and travel agencies, and money exchange service providers.
According to the newspaper, on the upper level is a shopping arcade anchored by a Duty Free Area where tourists can shop for perfumes, cosmetics, photo-electronic products, confectionery, jewelry, travel and fashion accessories, and Omani heritage items.
Muscat port has been attracting a growing number of cruise liners in recent years. According to the newspaper, cruise vessels calls jumped from 37 in 2006 to 84 in 2008, while passenger ship visits soared to 120 calls in 2009.
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