Doha: The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be a shot in the arm for hotels and the entire travel and tourism industry of Qatar which will be the cynosure of all eyes during the mega sporting event, a top official of a city hotel chain told The Peninsula yesterday.
“The run up to the World Cup will be a tailwind for the travel and tourism industry in Qatar which is well geared to welcome guests comprising celebrities, sports stars and a wide spectrum of renowned personalities from across the world”, said Cluster General Manager, The Victory and Saraya Palace Hotel, Haseeb Jilani.
According to leisure sector officials most hotels are prepared to host visitors for the world’s largest and most popular sports event hosted by Qatar, the first World Cup to be held in the Arab region.
All accommodating facilities have been given a complete facelift with new amenities to cater to the high-end travel community during the month-long event scheduled to take place from November 20 to December18.
The top sporting event is the 22nd edition of the quadrennial international men’s football championship contested by 32 senior national teams.
“We are excited about the first and the largest sporting event to be held in Qatar which will put the country on the global map once again and stimulate interest in travel, trade and investment in the rich nation,” Jilani said.
Hotel chains in the country have built new properties adding on to the portfolio in preparation for the World Cup with culinary infusions, entertainment and relaxation facilities to make stays memorable.
“The Chedi Katara, a five-star property and the latest inclusion to our properties with Saraya Hotel which currently has an occupancy rate of around 70 percent are well geared to welcome visitors and facilitate the World Cup. We expect full occupancy in the coming weeks until the completion of the event”, Jilani said.
Qatar kick-started preparations for the largest global sporting event well in advance and have spent in excess of $220bn for the prestigious event which is estimated to be 20 times over the previous championship held in Russia.
Gokulan Park Business Excellence Manager Ashid Syam said the hotel is ready to host visitors and added that revenue generated from tourism-related opportunities in the region alone will surpass $5bn and globally $25bn.
Estimates reveal that expenditure on gleaming new stadiums alone tops $6.5bn.
Jasmine Domingo, a licensed Tour Gide said all eyes will be on the young nation which will showcase customs, innovations, stunning architecture such as the Doha Tower and the national museum designed by renowned French architect Jean Nobel.
“Spectators will be amused with the Qatari customs, traditions dress and cuisine,” she said.
The 2022 tournament will be the last to involve 32 teams with an increase to 48 teams scheduled for the 2026 edition to be hosted in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The first match played at the tournament will be contested between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt stadium, Al Khor.
The final is due to be held on December 18 which coincides with the Qatar National Day.
The Qatar Tourism has recently announced that with one month to go until the FIFA World Cup, over 20 new hotels, resorts, and tourist destinations are opening in Qatar for the fans to enjoy during the tournament.
