DOHA: Awareness about Qatar in the French travel market is growing with an increase in the number of French tour operators that feature Qatar since Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) opened a representative office in Paris.
“We have had great success in boosting the number of French tour operators featuring Qatar to front line travel trade and consumers, from just 14 in 2014 to more than 25 today,” said Rashed Al Qurese, Chief Marketing and Promotions Officer, QTA.
Al Qurese was speaking at ‘Qatar Day’ — an event to introduce key French travel professionals, tour operators and travel media to Qatar’s tourist offerings.
“We have additionally generated great interest in our ‘Tawash’ online destination training programme among travel agents.
“This has enhanced our destination awareness among key sales personnel by providing them with necessary knowledge and enthusiasm to confidently generate consumer visitation to Qatar,” said Al Qurese.
“While awareness about Qatar in the French market is growing, thanks to the country’s association with Paris Saint Germain and Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, much of QTA’s work in France goes on behind the scenes, strengthening relations with the French travel trade through trade engagement, destination training workshops, familiarisation trips and tour operator campaigns,” he added.
Qatar saw a nine percent increase in the number of French visitors last year compared to 2014. With a growing international presence, QTA’s representative offices in London, Paris, Berlin, Milan, Singapore, Riyadh, Istanbul and New York support QTA’s promotion efforts.The Peninsula
Qatar’s Ambassador to France Meshaal bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar Airways executives, travel professionals, tour operators and travel media attended the event.
