Photo by Salim Matramkot/ The Peninsula
The public parks have emerged as one of the major tourist destinations in the country during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as they attracted 863,683 visitors during the month-long event.
As many as 62,046 people also visited beaches during the mega sporting event, according to the figures released by the Ministry of Municipality.
The parks operating in Al Rayan Municipality received the most, 615,732 visitors, followed by Doha Municipality parks which welcomed 128,273 visitors during World Cup.
As many as 61,376 people visited the parks in Al Khor and Al Zakhira Municipality. Parks of Al Daayen Municipality and Al Wakrah Municipality received 21,248 and 15,792 visitors respectively.
The Municipalities of Al Sheehaniya, Al Shamal and Umm Salal received 8049,7538 and 5675 visitors respectively.
Beaches also drew crowds during the mega sporting event. Beaches in Al Wakrah Municipality received 47,453 visitors, followed by those at Al Daayen Municipality which attracted 5,399 visitors.
As many as 4,615 and 3,832 people visited the beaches in Al Shamal and Al Khor and Al Zakhira Municipalities.
The number of public parks in Qatar reached 148 in 2022 from 56 in 2010, recording 164 percent growth.
Director of the Public Parks Department, Muhammad Ali Al Khouri, said in a recent statement that a number of public parks opened in 2022 such as Umm Al Seneem and Rawdat Al Khail and Panda House Park
He said that many parks were renovated and expanded services during this year to receive fans of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The Ministry of Municipality reopened eight beaches after renovation in the beginning of November 2022 to welcome fans of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The renovated beaches include Sealine Public Beach, Al Wakra Public Beach, Al Wakra Family Beach, Simaisma Family Beach, Al Ferkiah Beach, Safa Al Tawq Beach, Al Ghariya Beach and Al Kharaij Beach.
“We had marked 18 beaches for renovation to provide necessary services for visitors. In phase one, eight of them will be reopened on November 1 ahead of mega sporting event,” said Director of Projects and Development Department at the Ministry of Municipality, Eng Suleiman Al Abdullah.
