Azamara Enhances Travel with New Azamara Ashore Land Programs, Allowing Travelers to Fully Immerse Themselves in Local Cultures

Azamara is enhancing its travel offerings with the reintroduction of its Azamara Ashore land programs, designed to provide travelers with deeper, more authentic experiences at each destination. With these new programs, Azamara allows guests to fully immerse themselves in local cultures, offering unique opportunities to explore beyond the typical tourist attractions. Whether it’s through extended stays in vibrant cities or culturally rich excursions, the revamped Azamara Ashore program enables travelers to connect with destinations on a deeper level, fostering meaningful interactions with local communities and providing a more unhurried, immersive way to travel.

Azamara’s Azamara Ashore program relaunch is a direct response to the increasing demand for more immersive and meaningful travel experiences. Travelers today seek more than just fleeting visits to iconic sights. They want time to build connections with the places they visit, and Azamara is committed to facilitating these authentic experiences. By prioritizing deeper engagement with destinations, the relaunch of Azamara Ashore takes cruising to a whole new level, giving travelers more ways to understand and appreciate the destinations they visit.

Expansion of Programs and New Destinations

The reintroduced Azamara Ashore programs come with an expanded collection of land experiences. Between 2026 and 2028, Azamara will add 17 new pre- and post-cruise options, with six of them launching in 2026. This expansion brings the total number of Azamara’s core land programs to 84, spanning regions such as Africa, Oceania, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Guests will now have more opportunities to explore far-reaching locations with greater depth, embracing local culture and heritage in ways that go beyond typical tourist activities.

Azamara’s land offerings are designed with flexibility and depth in mind. The programs aim to give travelers more time in each location and a chance to experience a variety of authentic, off-the-beaten-path activities. Whether it’s spending time in a bustling city or visiting remote natural wonders, Azamara’s Ashore program provides the flexibility to enjoy it all at a leisurely pace.

Immersive City Stays and Hotel Stays

Azamara offers two key types of experiences within the revamped Ashore programs: Immersive City Stays and Hotel Stays. The Hotel Stays are designed for simplicity and ease, providing end-to-end logistics from arrival to departure. With optional transfers and streamlined processes, guests can focus entirely on their experience rather than worrying about travel details.

The Immersive City Stays are two-night cultural stays designed to let guests explore the heart of each destination. These stays include culturally rich experiences, from local markets to heritage sites, giving guests a chance to dive into the traditions, food, and history of the place. Each port of call will feature carefully curated experiences that highlight the uniqueness of the location, enabling guests to take in the essence of the city and its people in a relaxed, authentic way.

AzAmazing Journeys: A Full Cultural Immersion

In addition to the shorter stays, Azamara also offers AzAmazing Journeys, longer excursions lasting three to six nights that are designed to provide a complete cultural immersion. These journeys allow travelers to explore destinations more deeply, whether through tasting local dishes, participating in cultural rituals, or visiting remote areas with breathtaking views.

Examples of these exclusive journeys include a visit to Victoria Falls & Chobe National Park in Southern Africa with Micato Safaris, where guests can take in the stunning natural beauty of the region while engaging in wildlife safaris. In Peru, guests will visit Machu Picchu, Cusco & the Hiram Bingham Train, a unique train journey that offers a first-class view of the iconic archaeological site and its surrounding area. In Turkey, Wondrous Cappadocia offers an exploration of surreal landscapes, ancient cave dwellings, and local crafts, allowing guests to dive into the rich cultural fabric of the region.

These AzAmazing Journeys go beyond standard guided tours, providing an exclusive, off-the-beaten-path experience that allows travelers to connect more deeply with the local culture and natural wonders.

Innovative Ship&Play Partnership for Easy Luggage Delivery

Azamara has also partnered with Ship&Play, a service that allows guests to have their luggage shipped directly to their hotel or stateroom. This service simplifies travel by ensuring that luggage arrives ahead of or after the cruise, sparing travelers the burden of hauling heavy bags. The process is facilitated by a dedicated seven-day concierge team, ensuring everything is taken care of before and after the cruise, leaving guests free to enjoy their journey without the hassle of managing their luggage.

Azamara’s Ongoing Commitment to Immersive Travel

With the relaunch of Azamara Ashore, Azamara Cruises continues to demonstrate its dedication to offering enriching and immersive travel experiences. The focus is on enabling guests to experience destinations in a meaningful, unhurried way, whether through extended city stays or exclusive cultural journeys. These programs reflect a growing trend in the travel industry—one that prioritizes deep connections with destinations, local cultures, and experiences that leave lasting impressions.

Azamara is enhancing travel with its new Azamara Ashore land programs, offering travelers the chance to fully immerse themselves in local cultures through extended stays and culturally rich excursions.

As Azamara enhances its offerings, the cruise line continues to lead the way in destination-focused travel, offering guests opportunities to immerse themselves in places far beyond the typical tourist track. The reintroduction of Azamara Ashore exemplifies the company’s vision of creating journeys that are about more than just the destination; it’s about creating meaningful travel experiences that guests can cherish for a lifetime.

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Qatar Tourism Sets Ambitious Plans for 2026, Aiming to Attract More Indian Tourists with Sports and Cultural Events

Qatar Tourism has set ambitious plans for 2026, aiming to attract more Indian tourists by offering an exciting array of sports and cultural events. With a strong focus on showcasing world-class sporting competitions, cultural festivals, and wellness experiences, Qatar is positioning itself as an attractive destination for Indian travelers. These events will not only enhance the country’s appeal but also strengthen its connections with the Indian market, which continues to show significant demand for unique, culturally rich experiences.

The Qatar tourism body, Visit Qatar, has already laid out a vibrant and diverse calendar for 2026. With concerts, culinary festivals, and food experiences in the spotlight, the country is preparing to offer an array of events designed to appeal to visitors from around the world, especially those from India. These attractions are expected to drive further interest in Qatar, positioning it as a desirable destination for Indian tourists seeking a blend of culture, leisure, and adventure.

One of the central focuses of Qatar’s tourism push in 2026 is sports. Known for hosting prestigious sporting events, Qatar is capitalizing on this strength by promoting its reputation as a global sports hub. Indian travelers, with their passion for cricket and football, are likely to respond well to these offerings. The country has hosted several major events in recent years and aims to expand this aspect of its tourism, drawing more visitors interested in high-profile international sports.

Alongside sports tourism, cultural and family-friendly events will also feature prominently in Qatar’s tourism strategy. The country’s rich history, modern architecture, and cultural heritage provide ample opportunities for travelers to immerse themselves in its unique atmosphere. Family-focused initiatives will highlight Qatar as an ideal destination for families, offering a range of activities from museums to cultural experiences that appeal to all ages.

In addition to cultural experiences, Qatar’s commitment to wellness tourism will be a significant draw for visitors. The country’s state-of-the-art healthcare system is gaining international recognition, and Visit Qatar is working to combine this strength with the nation’s tourism appeal. New travel packages are being developed that combine medical care with leisure, allowing visitors to benefit from world-class healthcare while enjoying Qatar’s many attractions. These wellness offerings will attract those looking for a blend of health services and relaxation in a luxurious setting.

Qatar’s relationship with Bollywood is another key area of focus. Given the large Indian diaspora and the immense popularity of Bollywood, Visit Qatar is exploring partnerships with the film industry to promote Qatar as a destination for Indian tourists. The availability of 99 weekly flights from 13 cities across India to Doha enhances the country’s connectivity with India, making it a convenient and appealing option for travelers.

With strong demand for flights to Qatar, Qatar Airways currently operates at 90 percent capacity, a clear sign of the appetite for travel from India. This demand is expected to lead to increased flight frequencies, further facilitating travel between the two countries and making Qatar more accessible to Indian tourists. The growth in demand also indicates that Indian travelers are eager to visit Qatar, and the airline’s expansion plans may further stimulate this interest.

To expand its reach within India, Visit Qatar is targeting major metropolitan areas such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. The goal is to strengthen the Visit Qatar brand in these cities, which will serve as a springboard to extend the campaign to smaller cities across India. With this strategy, Qatar aims to appeal to a wide range of Indian tourists, from those seeking luxury and cultural experiences to those looking for adventure and family-friendly activities.

Looking ahead, Visit Qatar has set an ambitious target of attracting 6 million international tourists by 2030, a goal that is fast approaching, with 5.8 million visitors recorded already. With India playing a crucial role in this growth, the country is on track to meet its tourism target. A 6-7 percent increase in Indian arrivals this year will bring Qatar closer to its goal, with the Indian market expected to contribute significantly to the overall growth.

Qatar Tourism is set to attract more Indian tourists in 2026 through an exciting lineup of sports and cultural events, enhancing the country’s appeal as a top destination for travelers from India.

As Qatar continues to diversify its tourism offerings and strengthen its relationships with key markets like India, its tourism sector is poised for sustained growth. With its unique blend of cultural experiences, sports tourism, world-class healthcare, and strong ties to Bollywood, Qatar is positioning itself as a leading destination for travelers from India and around the world. The country’s strategic focus on appealing to Indian tourists will play a crucial role in achieving its ambitious tourism goals in the coming years.

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