Qatar has been adding feathers to its cap fast this recent past. In the last nine months, the country has been witnessing rapid development in every sector, be it economy, education, health care, sports or self-sufficiency in food supply.
The latest is the data about tourists inflow into the country, which shows a marked increase in inbound tourism, especially from the European countries. The number of visitors coming to Qatar from Europe has risen from 14 percent of total visitors in 2016 to 22 percent in 2017.
According to the data published by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics (MDPS), 483,834 guests from Europe visited Qatar during 2017 out of the total 2.3 million visitors arrived in the country last year.
Over the past year, Qatar has been taking steps to diversify its sources of tourists with aggressive planning and campaigns led by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and Qatar Airways. Travel industry sources in Qatar affirm that the country has emerged as an important centre in organising high-profile conferences, seminars, exhibitions and other related events, which has helped the country attract visitors and participants from across the world.
Since the June 5, 2017 blockade on the country, there has been a significant shift of focus in tourism sector as it was with other sectors. The time was ripe for QTA to refocus its promotional efforts beyond the GCC and the Arab World. It continues to intensify its promotional campaigns internationally through its wide network of representative offices in Turkey, the United States, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Singapore.
Qatar Airways is spreading its wings across the world adding new destinations and acquiring more and more advanced and sophisticated aircraft. The vibrant hospitality industry in Qatar also is chipping in by welcoming visitors regardless of their origin or nationality and upholding Qatari values. Qatar’s tourism industry has the ability to maintain professionalism, adherence to ethics and provide impeccable services. The QTA had taken several measures to draw more tourists to the country and the visa-free entry facility offered to nationals from 80 countries has come as a shot in the arm for the Authority.
Discover Qatar, the destination management arm of Qatar Airways, last year signed exclusive partnership agreements with four of the world’s major tour operators in Russia, Italy, Czech Republic and Ukraine, adding to the tourism inflow.
Qatar is keeping its doors open to all despite the unjust siege imposed on the country, extending a warm welcome to people from across the world. The country keeps its skies, ports and land routes wide open to everybody and is receiving visitors with a broad smile.
