Experts and specialists in the tourism and hospitality sector expected that the State of Qatar would be the fastest growing destination in the Middle East in this field, especially since it received more than a million visitors from the beginning of the year until last August, indicating that its goal is to triple the number of visitors by 2018. 2030, which enhances this sector, which plays a role in increasing domestic income, improving the balance of payments, and is a source of hard currency, and opens opportunities for employment of the workforce, as well as contributes to the development of infrastructure.

The experts also called for opening the tourism sector to more companies, institutions and tourism facilities, pointing to the remarkable recovery witnessed by the tourism sector in the State of Qatar in the current period, and to the acceleration of its pace with the State of Qatar welcoming more visitors from all over the world even after the end of the World Cup activities. 2022.

The current year 2022 witnessed the opening of more than 20 hotels, resorts and new tourist destinations in the country before the start of the Qatar World Cup 2022. In this regard, Sheikh Hamad bin Ahmed Al Thani, Chairman of the Tourism Committee and member of the Board of Directors of Qatar Trade, told Al-Jazeera Net that this The year is unprecedented in the march of the State of Qatar, its transformation into a global tourist destination, and its aspiration to increase the number of its visitors to 6 million annually by 2030.

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Qatar President of Tourism to # Qena: We seek to enhance the tourism aspect and have a multiplier effect on economic growth# Our unity_our source of strengthhttps://t.co/R6dkAjyZ0P pic.twitter.com/CdSMG7ZHNf

- Qatar News Agency (@QatarNewsAgency) December 17, 2022

New attractions

Sheikh Ahmed Al Thani stated that during the period 2017-2020, the total number of hotels in the State of Qatar increased by 6.9% to reach 109 hotels compared to 102 hotels in 2017, while - during the same period - the number of rooms increased by 3.7% to reach 23 thousand and 297 rooms compared to 22 1,461 rooms in 2017.

He added that the new tourist attractions include entertainment venues, beaches and beach clubs, arts and culture houses and shopping stores, referring to expectations that set the growth of the Qatari economy at 3.4% in 2022 and 2023, thanks to the momentum of hosting the World Cup, which will enhance Qatar's position on the world tourism map, which is What clearly appeared on the development and growth of the tourism sector in the country in the first half of 2022, as it remained a vital tourist destination in the region.

In terms of numbers, the statistics indicate an increase in the number of arrivals to Qatar from various countries, reaching 725,000 in the first half of 2022, despite the spread of the Omicron variant and its impact on the number of arrivals. The rapid growth in the Gulf markets contributed to 38% of the total number before the Cup. the scientist.

The head of the Tourism Committee stated that the driving forces of supply and demand maintained their momentum, as the volume of demand reached 3.1 million rented rooms in the first half, and total hotel revenues increased by 13% compared to before the Corona pandemic, knowing that 84% of the volume of revenues is not linked to procedures. Quarantine and that 90% of the total revenue is a result of room rentals achieved.

Sheikh Hamad bin Ahmed Al Thani: The tourism sector is one of the 5 priority sectors in the process of diversifying the Qatari economy (Qatari press)

Estimates of projects in the tourism sector

Regarding the volume of project estimates in the tourism sector, Sheikh Hamad bin Ahmed Al Thani said that the tourism sector is one of the 5 priority sectors in the process of diversifying the Qatari economy.

It provides lucrative opportunities for developers and investors, through a comprehensive approach that brings together the public and private sectors, to benefit from a $200 billion national investment program dedicated to the tourism sector, which includes improving the tourism climate in Qatar and implementing major development projects.

The country is also on the verge of an unprecedented boom in sports and institutional tourism by hosting upcoming world championships, after the 2022 World Cup, such as the 2030 Asian Games.

Akbar Al-Baker, President of Qatar Tourism and CEO of Qatar Airways Group, said in a statement to Qatar News Agency this week, "The state aims to increase the contribution of the travel and tourism sector to the gross domestic product from 7% to 12%, in addition to doubling job opportunities." in the tourism sector, while continuing efforts to enhance Qatar’s position as a leading global destination for service excellence.”

He looked forward to creating more tourism products that can highlight Qatar's tourism potential, the beauty of its natural scenes, and the unique experiences it provides to its visitors.

The success of the State of Qatar with distinction in organizing the World Cup, which is distinguished from previous tournaments, will make it the closest to being the capital of Arab tourism next year 2023


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.@alkasschannel @HukoomiQatar @QatarNewsAgency pic.twitter.com/ZJnvF2m7XU

- Journalist Suleiman Al-Salem (@suliman_alsalem) December 13, 2022

Hotel sector

A report issued by (Qatar Tourism), which is the first responsible and supportive entity for activities and events in Qatar, for the first half of 2022 showed the rapid growth in the Gulf markets, which contributed, by 38% of the total arrivals, as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia replaced India in the first place in terms of arrivals. The exporting markets for international arrivals to Qatar represent about 24% of the total arrivals, followed by the Sultanate of Oman at 5%, then Kuwait at 4%, and the UAE at 3%.

The report indicated that the hotel sector in Qatar showed flexibility in performance in the first half of this year, and the driving forces of demand maintained their momentum, and the volume of supply witnessed good growth, reaching 30 thousand rooms in the first half of 2022 from 27 thousand rooms in the first half of 2022. The year 2019. According to the Qatar Tourism Report, the stability of the driving forces of supply and demand helped to promote long-term growth in the sector.

Qatari tourism expert Hassan Hajji said in a statement to "Al-Jazeera Net" that Qatar has great tourism investment opportunities in the fields of sports - and the World Cup is the best witness to that - along with other opportunities in educational and cultural tourism, stressing at the same time that it has become a tourist destination, And that the visitors of the World Cup contributed to the unveiling of many tourist facilities that many residents of the country did not know, as the State of Qatar abounds with many tourism capabilities that are comparable to others in the world.

He expected a tourist turnout during the coming period after the World Cup ended, given that Qatari customs and traditions contributed to changing several stereotypes in the minds of many who came to attend the World Cup, and called for opening the door to more tourism companies, because the opportunities are many, and it is necessary - according to Hajji. - snapped.

Hassan Hajji: The visitors of the World Cup contributed to the unveiling of many tourist facilities that many residents of the country did not know (Qatari press)

Investment opportunities and the reality of the Qatari tourism sector

In 2018, the United Nations World Tourism Organization ranked Qatar as the most open country in the world, the first in the Middle East, and the eighth in the world in terms of ease of issuing visas and ease of visa procedures.

In addition, 88 countries in the world whose citizens can enter Qatar without paying any fees and without a visa, and Qatar occupies the first place among the safest countries in the world and the lowest crime rate, according to the global crime index from 2017 to 2020.

According to a study issued by the Qatar Chamber entitled "The Reality of the Qatari Tourism Sector in the Time of Corona - Challenges and Solutions", the investment opportunities in the Qatari tourism sector vary to include business activities, culture and heritage, desert safari services, the food sector, health and well-being, free and recreational activities, and sports. , recreation, organizing tours, tourist accommodation, and transportation services.

Wissam Suleiman: What distinguishes Qatar is family tourism, due to the level of safety the country is experiencing (Qatari press)

Wissam Suleiman, a specialist in the tourism and hotel sector, and general manager of the St. Regis Doha Hotel, told Al-Jazeera Net that tourism activity in Qatar this period is completely different from any previous period, as the interested audience got to know Qatar through the World Cup.

Suleiman added that what distinguishes Qatar is family tourism, due to the level of safety the country is experiencing, stressing the readiness of the tourism and hospitality sector to provide the tourism product to 3 million tourists, especially in light of the presence of the most important international hotel names in Doha.

It is noteworthy that the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism, in its 25th session, which was held on the 13th of this month, chose Doha as the capital of Arab tourism for the year 2023.