BUSINESSBU | 14 SPORT | 16 US economy Eto’o brace helpslps shows signs of Qatar SC rout slowing amid Al Kharaitiyat trade wars 4-0 Saturday 22 December 2018 | 15 Rabia II 1440 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 23 | Number 7748 | 2 Riyals 2019 Boost in cruise tourism Souq Waqif Spring Festival begins RAYNALD C RIVERA as many ships dock at THE PENINSULA Just three days after the whole country burst into a massive Doha Port since October National Day celebration, visitors to Qatar’s most popular Souq continues to IRFAN BUKHARI This season, which immerse into a festive mood THE PENINSULA will continue until May with the kick off of Souq Waqif 2019, is set to be the Spring Festival yesterday. With Qatar’s push to cement a Like its previous editions, position as a preferred tourist desti- busiest one since the this year’s festival blends nation, the cruise tourism sector is development of the games and rides with concerts witnessing a strong growth with cruise tourism sector and shows making it a much- thousands of tourists visited the in Qatar as more than anticipated event in Souq country aboard 14 cruise ships Waqif’s calendar for its high which docked at Doha Port since the 140,000 visitors in entertainment value. start of the season on October 2. 43 cruise ships are Dressed in their national This season, which will continue expected to dock at costumes, groups of cultural until May 2019, is set to be the performers from several busiest one since the development Doha Port during this countries in the region such as of the cruise tourism sector in Qatar season. Oman and Jordan left visitors as more than 140,000 visitors in 43 in high spirits yesterday as cruise ships are expected to dock at December 13, carrying a total of they danced and sang to the Doha Port during this season, 3,442 passengers and 1,307 crew accompaniment of native according to Qatar Tourism members. musical instruments. Artistes perform at Souq Waqif yesterday. PIC: BAHER AMIN /THE PENINSULA Authority (QTA). The German mega ship AID- Passers-by and customers On Thursday cruise ship MSC APrima called on December 12 at in restaurants captured in magicians and other artistes Aspire Zone, has also a Wakrah, another must-visit Lirica docked at Doha Port on its Doha Port, on its maiden voyage to their mobile phones the coming from other countries presence in the festival pro- tourist destination in the third visit during the ongoing Qatar, with 3,286 passengers and unique and lively perform- showcasing their skills in viding children a taste of what country. 2018-19 cruise season with 1,853 956 crew aboard. Qatar welcomed ances of the bands as they their performances, in to expect when it opens in the Meanwhile, food carts at passengers and 734 crew aboard. for the second time two mega cruise roamed around the main addition to entertaining first quarter of next year. Real- the festival venue witnessed QTA and the Mowasalat recently ships simultaneously on December alleys of the Souq. animal acts. Tickets to the life fun activities are being many customers who chose signed an MoU to develop tourism 5. The two ships MSC Lirica and Several stages have been shows which are staged twice provided free of charge to from a wide array of scrump- transport and enhance transport and Mein Schiff 4 brought more than erected in Al Ahmed Square in the evening are QR30, children at the KidZania tent tious snacks such as Turkish ice communication services to cope 6,000 visitors. and the Western parking area QR50 and QR70. throughout the festival. cream, burgers, crepes, waffles with the rapid growth in the cruise On December 4, Celebrity Con- where shows were played. Children as well as adults The festival runs parallel and corn as well as beverages tourism sector and to support QTA’s stellation sailed into Doha Port on More than 20 local and can play carnival skill games with the ongoing third edition including juice, karak and efforts to develop the tourism sector its second visit, carrying a total of regional singers are set to to win memorabilia and gifts of Shop Qatar which features coffee, among others. in general. 1,754 passengers and 957 crew perform in the coming days at the 15 colourful stalls lined big promotions and raffle The long line of restaurants On December 19, cruise ship members. at the concerts being pre- up at Al Ahmed Square, in draw prizes alongside fashion at the Souq also saw brisk AIDAPrima arrived at Doha Port on The cruise ship ‘Seabourn sented by Sout Al Rayyan. addition to several rides for forward events and concerts business yesterday with huge its second voyage, carrying 3,358 Ovation’ with 562 tourists and 424 Throughout the 15-day children. Both games and rides featuring international crowds who preferred to dine passengers and 955 crew members. crew onboard called into Doha Port festival, a circus show is are priced QR10. artistes. As in recent years, a at the outside sitting areas to Qatar welcomed the cruise ship MSC on its maiden call to Qatar on expected to wow the visitors The soon-to-open Kid- Spring Festival is also being enjoy the cool weather. Splendida on its first trip on December 3. `P2 with acrobats, jugglers, Zania, which is located in organised at Souq Waqif Al Exit of Mattis stirs 37 licences for livestock production projects issued this year worries from SIDI MOHAMED blockade when the major succeeded due to cooperation percent, whereas in the past it countries but “we succeeded to Brussels to Beijing THE PENINSULA dependence was on imports between government and private was only 50 percent and the treat them finally and this year we from the siege countries,” said sector. To increase the production daily consumption of frozen have treated about 240,000 BLOOMBERG/WASHINGTON The Ministry of Municipality and Farhoud Hadi Al Hajri, Director was a challenge for us but we suc- chicken is about 60 tonnes, of animals from different diseases”. Environment has accomplished of Animal Resources Department ceeded finally and in less than one which the state was currently Also, he said, that the department The abrupt resignation of US many achievements in the field Ministry of Municipality and year we started to achieve 100 producing 59 percent. had provided prevention and Defence Secretary Jim Mattis of self-sufficiency this year and Environment. percent self-sufficiency in some As for eggs and others, Al immunization to about 534,000 has governments from Seoul about 37 licences for livestock Farhoud Hadi Al Hajri, was products,” he noted. Hajri said before the siege, Qatar this year and seek to develop to Brussels on edge, as the production projects were issued speaking to a local channel about Regarding the number of live- was producing only 14 percent therapeutic services for animals. reliability of American alli- to contribute to ensure food the Ministry’s achievement this stock in the country, he said the of self-sufficiency and now the He also said that an ances and the direction of security. year. He added that the average number stood about 1.6 million country is producing 23 percent. agreement was signed two days policy under an erratic leader “The percentage of self-suf- daily consumption of milk and heads of livestock and the number Al Hajri also noted that the before the National Day between come under question. The ficiency of milk and dairy dairy products is about 600 of breeders is 17,000. animals’ medical treatment was Qatar and Hong Kong in the field former Marine general was products is about 100 percent, tonnes in Qatar and country is On frozen chicken, he said a challenge for the department of transportation horses and widely seen as a moderating while it was only 28percent producing 616 tonnes. “All these that the percentage of self-suf- due to big number which were serve horse breeders, especially force against President before the imposition of projects and initiatives ficiency reached was about 98 repatriated from the siege with regard to sports activities. Donald Trump’s hostility toward traditional American alliances and overseas troop commitments, Besides the immediate moves to pull Decline in ATV accidents seen forces from Afghanistan and Syria, Mattis’s departure could have ramifications for this winter camping season US standing around the world, from North Korea to Europe. `P11 FAZEENA SALEEM in the dunes, said Brendon experience in Qatar, protect the THE PENINSULA Morris, Executive Director, HMC, environment, and ensure public Fresh protests Ambulance Service. safety. A project recently launched to “It is encouraging to see that As part of it Sealine beach break out in Sudan enhance the winter camping we have started seeing a decline area is staffed with security per- season has started making a in traumatic injuries due to acci- sonnel, lifeguards, technicians, AFP/KHARTOUM positive impact on number of dents in the Sealine area,” he told and other support staff. Beyond accidents in the Sealine and The Peninsula. “Since we are at the beach, visitors can rent Protests over the rising cost Inland sea areas. the beginning of the camping quad-bikes and ATVs in a of bread broke out in Al Enna Project launched by season it is difficult to say about 300,000 square meter space Khartoum and its twin city National Tourism Council (NTC) the numbers. But proportionately designed to provide safe and Omdurman yesterday, as Qatar's Fares wins gold and its partners including the we are able to see some impact,” integrated experiences for biking Sudanese troops deployed Qatari weightlifter Fares Ibrahim Hassouna celebrates after winning the Hamad Medical Corporation’s he added.