Qatar places tourism at the forefront

Tourism in Qatar is on a high with several projects underway.
As per recent statistics, projects totalling US$8.48 billion are currently underway that will set Qatar as a major tourist and venue attraction. These projects include Doha Festival City, Doha Convention Centre, Rayyan Mall (Mall of Qatar), Doha Zoo, Lusail Museum, Katara Towers (Lusail Marina), and the FIFA World Cup football stadiums.
Rding on this growth, the Arabian Travel Market team held their annual roadshow in Doha. The event witnessed keen attendance from industry partners. Qatar will be represented at ATM 2015 with Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), Qatar Airways, Al Rayyan Hospitality, and Katara Hospitality occupying majority space.
“Qatar has witnessed astounding economic growth over the past decade, and this has translated into a healthy tourism sector,” explains Nadege Noblet, exhibition manager, Arabian Travel Market. “The recent completion of important infrastructure projects, such as the Hamad International Airport in 2014 and Qatar Airways’ plans to significantly expand its capacity across Europe this year, has confirmed Qatar’s position as an important travel and tourism hub.”
The total number of projects planned or underway include five museums and libraries; 57 hotels and resorts; 22 shopping venues; 21 sports facilities; 11 theme parks, six convention centres; and a theatre according to a report from MEED.
Qatar welcomed 2.8 m visitors in 2014, an 8.2% increase in numbers over previous year. 40% of tourists came from other GCC countries, 15% from European countries and 28% from Asia and Oceania, according to figures released by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA). Hotel occupancy rates increased to an average of 73% in 2014, with five-star properties a major share of visitors, and hoteliers in 2015 are expecting those numbers to rise further.
Source: Traveldaily