In 2011, so far 72 ships had arrived carrying 66,328 tourists signifying that the number of tourists this year has not been low, while in 2010 a total of 65 ships carrying 1,29,756 tourists arrived in the Kingdom, Brigadier Zuhair Rashid Al Absi, Director General of Security Exists said.
Brigadier Al Absi said the Kingdom had seen an increase in the number of tourists thanks to its peace and security, but the recent security situation had limited the arrival of tourist ships and the number of tourists. He hoped the current stability would help increase tourism in the Kingdom.
He said that one of the most important duties of the directorate is to implement all the procedures to protect and secure the seaports, docks and related facilities. The Directorate also works to prevent crime and follows up the ones committed within the boundaries of a seaport. It also receives complaints, organises vehicular movement within the ports and liaises with all the authorities working in the ports.
Brigadier Al Absi said: “Among the many of the cases registered by the directorate are related to the loss of licences and official documents to enter the ports, possession of weapons without a licence, thefts and electronic crimes.”
“In 2010, there was a quantum leap for the Security Exits Directorate in the field of technology when it was linked to the informatics telecommunication web to help launch the Unified Criminal Record system,” he added. “The directorate personnel also took part in courses designed to operate the security informatics system. The directorate also organises visits to the associations and sections that deal with seaports, such as the Customs Operations Room, to enable its staff to benefit from the technology used to control and monitor.
Brigadier Al Absi praised the efforts of the Head of Seaport Police Colonel Ismael Khalifa Ismael for planning and preparing security service programmes and improving the efficiency of the cadres.
He also affirmed close coordination between the directorates and all the associations that functioned within the ports in addition to the ministries concerned, especially the Ministry of Culture and the Tourism Sector. As the directorate facilitates the flow of taxis taken by the tourists and helps ship crews to complete travel formalities.
Police Directorate is one of the directorates attached to the General Directorate of Security Exits. It was created in 2007 and is responsible for maintaining security and order at seaports and for following cases in Sitra Port, Muharraq Port, Khalifa Port, Al Door Port, Salman Port, the drydock and the iron and steel plant in association with inspection companies and the firms that provide security guards.