As curtains fall for 2018, it is time to take stock of what happened through the year. In an analysis published by Bloomberg about the financial wellbeing of countries in the region, the reputed agency said that Qatar has beat its neighbours in 2018’s asset scorecards.
It goes on to say that even though Qatar is the one that has been wronged upon due to the illegal blockade, its assets have fared better this year than other Gulf nations. Doha has offset the impact of the blockade on its economy.
Anticipating a changing worldview on oil and energy dependence, Qatar had already put in place policies and efforts to diversify its economy. One of the five sectors identified by the leadership for economic diversification is tourism.
This year had been a stellar year for the sector as foundation was laid for achieving great success in years ahead as new paths were carved to take Doha into the list of top destinations in the world. These efforts are already showing results as Doha was ranked among the Top 100 City Destinations worldwide.
A fresh approach was introduced and to take this forward a new National Tourism Council was established. Soon the first global promotion campaign ‘Qatar. Qurated for you.’ was unveiled to introduce Qatar and its offerings to global travellers. The campaign showcased something for everyone as the country offers a vast variety options from sea to desert to malls to forts.
Another interesting development in 2018 is that Qatar has emerged as a sought after wedding destination. This year saw a huge Indian wedding in Doha and the smooth organisation of the same has spurred a lot of interest among couples who want to travel to a place offering modern luxury with magnificent hotels and exceptional hospitality services. There are six more weddings confirmed for 2019.
All this is made possible due to better co-ordination between the hospitality sector, the Ministry of the Interior, Qatar Airways and the General Authority of Customs.
This ease of access for visitors has made UNWTO rank Qatar as the most open country in the Middle East and the 8th most open country in the world.
Qatar has already made a name as a global destination for sports as Doha has hosted many prestigious events in the past and many more international events are planned for next 3-4 years culminating in the football World Cup in 2022.
With a nice mix of visitors, it is just a matter of time, Qatar will be able to grow exponentially into a great global destination for quality tourism.
