From top left: Aisha Al Fardan, Palma Libotte, Farhan Al Sayed and Pawel Kulaga
Business groups in Doha lauded Qatar’s ambitious plans for the tourism industry following the meeting between the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani and the Editors-in-Chief of newspapers in the country recently.
During the meeting, H E the Prime Minister said plans are afoot to further boost Qatar’s tourism sector as the country seeks to create new destinations that suit and interest all segments of society and tourists. Legislative tools for restructuring the tourism sector regulators will be released soon and the sector will be followed up by the Prime Minister, he added. H E the Prime Minister also reiterated during the meeting that Qatar has completed a national strategy for the development of the tourism sector.
Speaking to The Peninsula yesterday, Qatari Businesswomen Association’s (QBWA) Vice-Chairperson Aisha Al Fardan said: “As a Qatari woman, I am always proud when Qatar puts itself in the global map. I believe that it is a great notion to attract people from all over the world as I would love the world to see how wonderful Qatar is. I am very proud that Qatar is always thinking ahead and taking action. Tourism is more than just showcasing my country, it is also about understanding culture and connecting with people, no matter how different our backgrounds are. As a member of Qatar’s business community, I believe those plans of activating the tourism sector will create new business opportunities for the Qatari female entrepreneurs”.
Italian Chamber of Commerce in Qatar’s President Palma Libotte added: “I agree with the insightful views of H E the Prime Minister to diversify the offer for tourists with different budgets. Qatar has a lot to offer as a tourism destination. The great deal of attention that FIFA World Cup 2022 brings is certainly a great marketing campaign for tourists and there are opportunities for all. Before the pandemic, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with local tour operators organised many tours for VIPs as well as for cruise ships. We have many multilingual guides that are experts of Qatar. And we come from one of the most popular touristic destinations in the world – Italy. So we are aware of the needs of any kind of tourists and I think Qatar is really advancing rapidly to be a great touristic destination from its hotels to new beach resorts, as well as the guided tours”.
According to Farhan Al Sayed, President of the Qatar-Indonesia Business Council, Qatar is among the few countries in the world which provides visa-free entry to over 100 countries. He added: “Qatar along with its five-star airline (Qatar Airways) and one of the best airports in the world (Hamad International Airport) is now fully equipped to receive international tourists. Also, we’re just wrapping up with one of the most well-managed COVID-19 programmes. In the coming months, there will be a huge number of incoming tourists. Not to forget, the interest around the world on Qatar as a host of the World Cup 2022 as well as the first edition of the FIFA Arab Cup championship in November. We are also completely prepared to receive tourists of all budgets. Tourists come with different budgets, and I think even tourists with small budgets can come to Qatar. Qatar is not only for the rich, it’s for everyone. The Qatari hotel market is designed for 2, 3, 4, and 5 star hotels. We see plenty of hotels which have sprung up around the Museum of Islamic Art lately. And we cater not just to international travelers, but also to the GCC tourists. As soon as the restrictions are eased, we’re expecting a big influx of GCC tourists also coming into Qatar”.
Pawel Kulaga, Vice-President of Qatar-Poland Business Council, added: “Qatar prides itself in being one of the safest countries in the world which is a quality that is highly valued by today’s travellers. The richness of Qatar’s history is displayed beautifully in several world-class museums and can be experienced in lively souqs and neighbourhoods. Its natural attractions are very memorable and a trip to the sand dunes and beaches is a must. The country is an ideal destination for wellness tourism as it is a magnet for people from many cultures and backgrounds. Any vacation stay can be combined with a focus on one’s health by taking advantage of world-class clinics, spas and other relaxation opportunities. Despite its already impressive tourism offer, Qatar will witness an accelerated trend in developing high-end infrastructure for visitors. This will create many attractive opportunities for investors and will contribute to an even greater level to the nation’s GDP”.
