New water park opened in UAE

Thanks Genesis for the insight.

In no means I was referring to the Arabic Culture. I was referring to the specific National Qatari distinct culture. A country's identity can't hide forever behind their ancestor's achievements.

Qatar is today an independent country unable to attract anyone (except only for its money)!

Qatar is too small and too uninteresting for the world to care. The only reason Qatar is slightly emerging (for the time being) is because the its oil and gas.

Its culture and religion will either have to suffer some sort of evolution or it will contribute to its own shrinkage and eventual disappearance.

it's not lack of culture. We are backed up with 1400 years of civilization that started with our ancestors in the Arab peninsula & spread all over three continents. but lack of enthusiasm to prosper. It's the fear of change, the fear of accepting other cultures that contradicts with our cultural nature. Like many have said before, i think Qatar must focus its attention in one direction (i.e.: Education). Tourism here is doomed to fail, as long as most of the locals mindset (and that includes some of the decision makers) believes that any sort of entertainment contradicts with our religious beliefs & society norms.

As long as "self-interest" overwhelms the public interest. Tribalism, Nepotism and cronyism overcomes the competence and experience of individuals. There always be that empty feeling . As most doesn't believe in what they are doing or what do they want to achieve.

I feel no void here.

Qatar has plenty of culture.....

Raven,

the mix between their strict religion, their habitat, their history and their (lack) culture, results in to the void we all feel here.

their music and arts in general are just a tiny hint of what they are able to come up with.

Well said Nic, can't take fault with logic like that...Qatar with all its gas wealth completly lacks any immagination, flair, innovation and excitement!

Raven1968,

Brains are limited in societies where centuries of civilization are missing.

Can’t built solid structures on sand, with no foundations...

Qatar is not more than a fire work display that will last until the world needs oil and gas. After that, refer to the ghost towns of the old American Wild West, for an idea of its outcome!

At the end, nature always wins!

If Qatar is at all serious about hosting events such as the Olympics and the FIFA WC the country needs such attractions...otherwise keep doing what ya doing Qatar, and tourists will keep going to Dubai

Target the giants!

Purely based on that assumption. Maybe they do and maybe they don't but lets face it, which country in the world today will say no to opportunities to bring in more moolah! specially with the bid and all that, Allahu alim..

Exactly

Dubai advertises one thing and then gets its ghutra in a bundle and then you get the sensational headlines.

Dubai doesn't want the tourism it attracts!

I think its good for Qatar to promote conferences because of its location.

Or start pushing more money into conservation and look for niche tourism.

You are assuming that Qatar wants or needs tourism like Dubai ..

People just need to lighten up a bit here. Everything else will follow.

I guess what Qatar really needs is to come up with an original venture to draw in the tourists..something new that no country specially in the gulf has already done. And of course that will fit in with the various environments of the land. See what happens when an aqua park type venue opens is that people are bound to compare favorably and unfavorably to the other existing venues in the rest of the gulf. Like just yesterday I had a time trying to convince my sister back in SL to fly over here for her next vacation instead of more "happening" lands. there is a serious lack of original tourist attractions here. Lets hope some smart investors can pioneer something amazing soon!

I agree. My point was that as torism increases, enterpreneurs expand facilities / venues to offer alternatives and better facilities.

Look at Disneyworld with their new rides etc.

chicken and egg situation? Seriously its hard to tell really what came first. However I think for a tourist aka holidaymaker to fly over to a country there has to be something there in the first place be it natural or man made.

Yes they do because the enterpreneur or government sees a market for them.

brit Dubai is a tourist hub because of those places. Those places have not come up because it was a tourist hub.

Does it also have to do with the small population of Qatar ?

I mean , Dubai is a tourism hub of a sort. So, the numbers utilising these types of facilities are much higher leading to more investment.

unfortunately,the controversy surrounding the opening of Aqua Park Qatar is a good example why no one would invest in these sort of developments.

Wild Wadi is fantastic, and the new Atlantis water park on the Palm is awesome, al be it a bit pricey, but this new development compliments the others well. Shame Qatar doesn't have the vision or will to invest in these sort of developments!

Wild Wadi in Dubai is so much fun. Now this one as addition should make it much better there. Hope no dress code demands there as in Aqua park Doha.