Qatar Tourism Authority to develop key destinations to enhance visitor experience

The Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has launched a programme to develop key destinations within Qatar to enhance visitor experience, starting with the Bin Ghannam Island, which is being developed in partnership with Ashghal.

“We’ve also started working on the development of Khor Al Adaid and Sealine in collaboration with various stakeholders,” QTA Acting Chairman Hassan Al Ibrahim was quoted as saying by Gulf Times.

“And to further ease business procedures for our private sector partners, we’ve launched another phase of the e-licensing system, which caters to tourism establishments and business events’ organisers,” he added, while addressing QTA’s fifth Annual Tourism Industry Ramadan Ghabga.

He elaborated on the authority’s future plans.

“We’re currently anticipating the decision to establish the National Tourism Council, which will be followed by a transformation of the sector’s governance, to ensure greater transparency, efficiency and participation of the private sector. This transition will not affect our day-to-day functions, our events, or our attention to your requirements.”

Al Ibrahim said although a year has passed since the beginning of the unjust siege imposed on Qatar, QTA has managed to turn the challenge into a great catalyst for development and growth.

“In co-operation with its partners from the public and private sectors, QTA organised several exhibitions, festivals and tourist events,” he said, adding “the tourism industry has grown, and with it the number of stakeholders.’

Within a short space of time, Qatar has become the most open country in the region, following a string of visa facilitation policies. Meanwhile, Qatar’s hospitality sector has risen to top the Middle East, according to Olery’s Guest Experience Report.

“We’ve also opened representative offices in the three largest visitor source markets in the world — China, Russia and India. The promotional efforts in these markets have been accompanied by a promising increase in visitor arrivals, with the number of Russian visitors increasing by 441%, Chinese visitors increasing by 27% and Indian visitors by 15% in the first quarter of 2018.”

The Annual Tourism Industry Ghabga is one of many platforms for the members of the tourism sector to connect, exchange ideas and find new and innovative ways to develop the sector through partnerships.