For the first time, Abu Muhammad finds himself forced to endure a sultry summer, which was exacerbated by the precautionary measures imposed by the Coronavirus, unlike the past years when he was confused among several options on the list of the best global tourist destinations that appeal to most Qatari families in Europe and Asia.
In the wake of the closure situation experienced by a number of airports around the world, the suspension of reservations in most of the well-known tourist resorts, and the increase in fears of any possible risks due to travel, Abu Muhammad chose to rethink vacationing outside the country.
He directed the compass inward in an attempt to break the monotonous atmosphere left by the quarantine period in Qatar, diversify its reservations between a number of hotels and tourist resorts, and explore their potential in the fields of hospitality and entertainment, especially after the start of the third stage of the stages of easing precautionary measures in Qatar.
Unprecedented hotel reservations
Many families of Qatari citizens and residents of different nationalities tended to this option, as a number of hotels and tourist resorts in Qatar, especially the family, registered a high turnout, reaching the limits of full occupancy due to the unprecedented demand resulting from not traveling abroad.
For years, serious thinking crystallized to diversify the tourism product in Qatar by optimizing a number of promising areas, especially those bordering on or near the coasts as Qatar is a peninsula, and there are tourist sites in the desert that can be used to create winter reception oases that reflect Qatari environment and its heritage.
Most tourist resorts and major hotels did not need to offer promotional offers that would break prices, but social media remained an open space to criticize the prices of some villas and residences on the sea, considering that they are directed to a specific segment, and the rest of those wishing to benefit from its entertainment services were not observed in the absence of availability Other alternatives.
These resorts try to mix global tourism standards with respect to the local environment, and create appropriate conditions for family tourism that prefer to consider privacy, in addition to responding to the needs of different groups of youth and children.
Spending at home
The Qatari tourist remains the most spending on tourism in the Arab world, where spending rates for Qataris rise year after year and at an accelerated pace on travel and luxury accommodation in the finest hotels, and the subsequent purchases from the finest stores and international brands.
According to official data, the Qatari spending on tourism abroad amounted to about 34.528 billion riyals (the dollar equals 3.56 riyals) last year, and observers of the tourism sector see that this is due to a package of factors, the most prominent of which is the possession of a large proportion of Qataris real estate in global tourist destinations Varied, encourages them to go to these destinations more than once a year.
Perhaps this is what made the National Tourism Council (an official Qatari authority) make great efforts to upgrade the tourism sector in Qatar by developing tourism facilities and investing in islands and beaches and expanding possible tourism options, and to meet external and internal demand in order to divert the thrust of Qatari tourists spending abroad internally, It is expected that the coming months will witness the launch of more projects by the Council, to be implemented in cooperation with the private sector.
Domestic tourism is an important bet
The Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the Qatar Chamber and member of its Board of Directors Sheikh Hamad bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Thani says that Qatar today has a developed tourism structure, and it also possesses all factors of tourist attractions thanks to the achievements of major projects that are unique in the Middle East and comparable to global sites, and that After motivating the private sector to invest more in this field and providing all means of support in coordination with the government.
He stated in a statement to Al-Jazeera Net that domestic tourism is an important bet, and one of the factors stimulating the local economy and achieving Qatar's ambitious vision in the field of tourism. Hence, the Qatar Chamber is making great efforts to overcome difficulties and discuss challenges facing this vital sector.
In turn, the major commercial complexes that market to international brands enhance opportunities to raise domestic tourism by providing world-class shopping destinations, by virtue of opening multiple branches in Qatar for years.
Promising tourism projects
Throughout the past years, the Banana Resort located on one of the marine islands has remained one of the most important tourist resorts in Qatar, and the success of this recreational project represented a great incentive to create more resorts and entertainment spaces that serve the development of the tourism infrastructure as it occupies an important space in Qatar National Vision 2030.
Today, Salwa Beach Resort is located less than 100 km from Doha, and features a wide range of great facilities, including a private three-kilometer beach, luxury marina and yacht club, water park, diving center, cinema and shopping mall. An Arab village, and a spa.
In order to avoid cloning one model and diversifying the tourism product according to the seasons of the year, he recently announced the opening of the Zalal Health Resort, which is a distinguished project developed by Musheireb Real Estate Company, and is the largest health tourism destination in Qatar, and the first health resort of its kind in the Middle East region.
It is also expected to launch a number of other hotel and resort projects in new areas that take advantage of the local environment, with the proximity of Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup and preparing to receive football fans from all countries of the world.