Qatar’s tourism sector is undergoing rapid development with milestone achievements in various sectors. The country’s tourism industry is a promising market for investors and businesses. It has witnessed 11 percent growth during January to August 31 this year compared to the same period in 2018, said Akbar Al Baker, Secretary-General of Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) and Group Chief Executive, Qatar Airways.
“Together with our partners from both the public and private sectors, we have been constantly working on implementing policies to develop the tourism ecosystem that helps create new business sustainable growth and job opportunities. With a stable growth that has reached 11% as of August 2019, Qatar’s tourism sector has proven to be a promising market for investors and businesses,” said Al Baker.
Qatar was recently ranked on top in the Middle East and number eight globally in Business Environment by the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019.
The country’s national carrier, Qatar Airways has inaugurated five new destinations linking Hamad International Airport (HIA) to the world. Qatar Airways’ new routes include Izmir, Turkey, and Rabat, Morocco, which were launched in May; with Davao, the Philippines, Malta, and Lisbon, Portugal, joining the network later in June.
With the expansion of the route network, HIA looks forward to welcoming a rising number of travelers aboard Qatar’s state-of-the-art facility to experience a unique passenger journey into the world of the arts, culture, and hospitality.
HIA also reported serving a total of 9.38 million passengers in the second quarter of 2019, making it the busiest second quarter the airport has seen.
HIA has achieved second place in the prestigious 2019 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. First receiving this award in 2017, HIA continues to position itself as a leading global aviation hub, with redefined airport experiences for travelers from around the world.
Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at HIA, said: “We are very proud to be recognized by our loyal passengers for the seamless airport experience offered by HIA. To be named the World’s Second-Best Airport is a great achievement and testament to HIA’s high international standards. While this is great recognition, we never rest on our achievements, and constantly evolve to deliver a truly unique experience for our passengers.”
HIA’s unique shopping and dining offering spread across 40,000 square meters of combined retail, food and beverage options are also continuously expanding.
The hospitality sector also expanding with the increasing number of hotels coming up in Qatar.
Katara Hospitality, the country’s flagship hospitality company, continues to expand its portfolio of iconic hotels to invest and acquire in key sought after international markets, while also maintaining is strong position as market leaders in the hospitality industry in Qatar. It has gone a long way from 362 keys in 1970 to 7,896 in 2019.
Looking forward, the company is now focusing on its next strategic target of expanding its portfolio of iconic hotels to 60 properties by 2026 after surpassing its previous target by two years. In Qatar, the company has shaped the hospitality landscape for over four decades and today is part of the national infrastructure that grows alongside the country’s development.
Katara Hospitality is also leading spectacular new projects that will redefine the design and presentation of luxury hospitality in the country. One of the organization’s most significant projects that are currently underway is Katara Towers in Lusail Marina District, a luxury hospitality complex which is an architectural translation of Qatar’s country seal. Hosting a five-star ultra-luxury hotel and branded apartments, Katara Towers features twin arched towers that rise gracefully from the podium level and represent the crossed swords of the country’s seal. With its incredible design complemented by landscaped gardens and palm trees, the hospitality complex is set to become the hospitality icon of the 21st Century. Other properties coming up soon are Al Messila Resort & Spa and Salwa Beach Resort, which will both add to the list of must-visit for visitors and tourists.
The Peninsula
30/09/2019
