The tourism sector has seen a significant boost despite pandemic-induced strains to the global tourism industry. Several measures by Qatar Tourism have ensured a gradual return to pre-pandemic levels.
Qatar’s National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030) aims to enhance the tourism sector’s contribution to GDP by 12 percent by 2030. The Qatar Tourism Strategy 2030, a significant driver of the country’s socio-economic growth, supports this goal.
Over the last 18 months, authorities have invested in new and existing tourism assets. The country is also leveraging the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as a springboard to welcome visitors and keep them coming beyond the football showpiece. In this regard, Qatar is ramping up efforts to build more hotels and hotel apartments, expand its tourism portfolio, and develop infrastructure and facilities to cater to this vision.
Hosting attractive international events and revamping the local tourism scene has increased patronage by citizens and residents as staycation numbers continue to grow.
Also, Qatar Tourism recently announced that the hospitality sector’s hotel accommodation supply grew by 4 percent in comparison to September 2020 with a total of 29.2 thousand keys by the end of Q3, 2021 compared to 28.2 thousand during the same period last year. Deluxe and standard hotel apartments category witnessed the biggest growth of 9 percent.
According to a recently-published quarterly review by Colliers, Qatar expects to add 15,800 hotel keys by 2023. Besides, Qatar tourism earlier this week stated that at least 78 cruise liners would make their first call in the country from December to April next year. This sets the stage for what could be Qatar’s busiest cruise season as the country hosts the FIFA Arab Cup and the Qatar International Food Festival.
Recently, more than 70 local and international exhibitors from over 30 countries participated in the sixth edition of Hospitality Qatar 2021.
Qatar Tourism also attended the World Travel Market (WTM) 2021 in London.
The Qatar pavilion showcased essential developments and initiatives while building connections between international travel trade and tourism industry members.
The Visit Qatar website recently launched an Arabic website to attract visitors from neighbouring Arab nations. The website is now available in German, French, Spanish, Italian, and English.
