DOHA: Arabian Travel Market’s 2015 roadshow series arrived in Qatar here the other day to meet with key industry players and highlight the country’s healthy growth in the hotel and tourism sector, which saw over $2.5bn in contracts awarded in 2014.
Qatar will be represented at ATM 2015 by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), Qatar Airways, Al Rayyan Hospitality, and Katara Hospitality, occupying over 815 square metres of floor space at the dedicated Qatar stand this year.
Projects totaling $8.48bn are currently underway that will set Qatar up as a major tourist and venue attraction, including Doha Festival City, Doha Convention Centre, Rayyan Mall (Mall of Qatar), Doha Zoo, Lusail Museum, Katara Towers (Lusail Marina), and not forgetting the FIFA World Cup football stadiums, home to the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
“Qatar has witnessed astounding economic growth over the past decade, and this has translated into a healthy tourism sector focused on culture, shopping, sporting events, meetings and exhibitions,” explains Nadege Noblet, Exhibition Manager, Arabian Travel Market.
“The recent completion of important infrastructure projects, such as the iconic 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 for the region, which ATM 2015 is keen to highlight.”
The total number of projects planned or underway include 5 museums and libraries; 57 hotels and resorts; 22 shopping venues; 21 sports facilities; 11 theme parks, 6 convention centres; and a state-of-the-art theatre (MEED).
Qatar saw 2.8 million visitors enter the country in 2014, an 8.2pc increase in numbers over the previous year, generating 61,000 jobs in the tourism sector and an economic injection of $7.6bn, equal to 8.3pc of Qatar’s non-extraction GDP, according to IFP Info.
