By Sanaullah Ataullah
DOHA: India is fast emerging as a favourite destination for tourists from not only Qatar and other GCC countries but also the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, Indian Ambassador to Qatar Sanjiv Arora has said.
More than 400,000 tourists from the Gulf and Mena visited India in the past two years.
A big number of people from Qatar visit India every year. They are not going only for leisure but also for medical treatment.
Plans are afoot to strengthen relations between Qatar and India and boost tourism, Arora said.
Relations would go deeper as Qatar expects the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the visit of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to India this March.
“There is a very warm invitation extended by the Qatari leadership to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We are in contact to finalise the date of visit as per convenience of both sides,” Arora said.
He was speaking at a programme organised by India Tourism, Dubai, in cooperation with the Indian embassy under the theme ‘Incredible India’.
The event was meant to introduce and promote Indian tourism products to attract tourists from Qatar and other GCC states.
The embassy plays an active role in making India a favourite tourist destination for people (citizens and expatriates) in Qatar.
“Last three years, on a daily basis, we issued a large number of multiple entry visas to our Qatari friends to visit India. Some of them are present here,” said Arora.
“We are also considering introducing multiple entry visas for frequent business travellers and tourists,” he added.
India has diverse products to attract foreign tourists such as old temples, churches, mosques and religious festivals, beautiful beaches, cinema, hotels, deserts, zoological parks, diverse modes of transportation, yoga and ayurveda, among others.
“Visit India, it will be a life-long journey and you will wish for a revisit, truly India is incredible and that is the theme of today’s function,” said the ambassador.
The recent journey of Fath Al Kheir 2, the dhow from Qatar to India, has added a new chapter deep rooted relations between the two countries, especially in the tourism sector, he added.
The event was attended by Qatari dignitaries, including Qatar Chamber Vice-Chairman Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Tawar Al Kuwari and Sherida Saad Jubran Al Kaabi, former Qatari ambassador to India.
Many representatives from local and Indian hospitality industry and airlines were also present at the event.
The Peninsula
