Associate Manager, Hospitality & Tourism, Colliers in MENA, Naiara Giner
Doha, Qatar: Countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including Qatar, must adopt innovative and sustainable policies and infrastructures to ensure the region’s tourism sector functions all year round.
The region faces the challenge of tourism seasonality, which limits the sector from maximising its capabilities and reaching its full potential in visitor numbers. As per the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), tourism seasonality means the temporal variation in tourist activities and visitation patterns within a destination over a given period.
In an interview with The Peninsula, Associate Manager, Hospitality & Tourism, Colliers in MENA, Naiara Giner stressed that despite the region’s long hot and dry summers, countries can build sustainable and eco-friendly infrastructure and prioritise sustainability to improve the sector.
“Building infrastructure to cope with the intense summer heat in GCC countries can align with eco-friendly principles, provided it’s approached with careful consideration for sustainability. While the region experiences scorching summers, eco-conscious infrastructure development can help mitigate its environmental impact,” Giner stated.
She added that these measures include adopting sustainable design practices, including energy-efficient cooling and ventilation systems, and using materials and construction techniques that minimise heat absorption.
Also, embracing renewable energy sources like solar power for cooling and electricity can reduce reliance on fossil fuels —curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
According to Giner, other practices in water efficiency can help conserve the region’s scarce water resources, ensuring tourist places remain attractive to visitors. Besides, urban planning incorporating natural shade from trees and vegetation and reducing the urban heat island effect are positive measures that can be adopted. Sustainable transportation options and climate-responsive planning should also be integral to eco-friendly infrastructure development.
“Public education and awareness campaigns can encourage responsible water use and energy conservation. In essence, it’s possible to construct eco-friendly infrastructure that not only withstands the summer heat but also contributes to a sustainable and environmentally responsible future for the Middle East,” she added.
A recent Colliers report titled ‘Seasonality Mitigation: Causes, initiatives & tactics to Alleviate Tourism Seasonality in the Middle East’ analysed the seasonal trends observed in the Middle East and highlighted innovative tactics to address these fluctuations.
Countries in the region have recognised the immense potential of tourism with significant investment in the sector in recent years. In Qatar, several events are lined up yearly to ensure the nation’s tourism strategy is on track to attract more than six million visitors by 2030. Qatar aims to be a leading regional and global tourist destination and raise the sector’s gross domestic product (GDP) contribution to 12 percent by 2030. To achieve this, boosting year-round tourism in the Middle East is vital for policy-making as it ensures economic stability, reduces unemployment and fosters sustainable tourism. Investments in infrastructure and diversification of revenue streams are also vital benefits.
“Year-round tourism promotes cultural exchange, diplomacy and collaboration with neighbouring destinations. It minimises the region’s vulnerability to external factors and aligns with global sustainability goals. These strategies enhance the region’s overall socio-economic well-being, making it more resilient and attractive to tourists throughout the year,” Giner noted.
Despite several efforts in the region to market the numerous tourist attractions, Giner stated there is room for further improvement. She underlined the importance of intensifying collaborative efforts between GCC countries to create compelling destination packages and cross-promotions, reducing seasonality disparities among themselves.
“This would help tap into the full potential of the region’s diverse tourism assets. Implementing robust promotional campaigns, not only during peak seasons but also in off-peak periods, can attract a more consistent flow of tourists,” she emphasised, adding that investments in infrastructure, tailored product development and sustainable tourism practices should continue to be a priority.
