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Qatar has announced the opening of a new chapter of its National Strategy for the Tourism Sector by 2030, as well as its growth objectives for the next five years. This bold and innovative plan was announced by His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior of Qatar, on the occasion of the official celebrations of the Organization's World Tourism Day. World Tourism Organization (OMT) which took place this year in Qatar in Doha on September 27.

This new chapter aims to define the essence of Qatar as a tourist destination and will enable the development of products, services and experiences that will make this vision a reality. His Excellency also announced that, in the coming months, the governance of the tourism sector will be reorganized around a new National Tourism Council with the aim of concentrating and integrating the efforts of the main partners and actors of the industry in order to to specify, orient and stimulate the growth of the tourism sector.

This new chapter presents a clear roadmap for the development of products and services that will define the tourism experience in Qatar. Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chief Tourism Development Officer at the Qatar Tourism Authority, explained: “Together with our partners in the public and private sectors, we have explored the most effective ways to continue building on the already strong foundations of the sector. tourism programs implemented since 2014, seeking to further develop the country's cultural and natural assets. Thus, this new chapter makes Qatar a destination to be discovered - where the authenticity of culture meets modernity, where the sand meets the sea and where people from all over the world meet to experience unique moments, whether in the fields of culture, sport, business and family. "

For Hassan Al Ibrahim, this new chapter introduces a blueprint for the tourism industry in Qatar, describing how this new positioning will take shape over the next five years. This plan identifies six geographic areas across the country and links each of these areas to tourism themes identified according to the geographic characteristics and natural assets of the region. Local and international investors will be invited to develop tourism products and services in each geographic area, in accordance with the themes proposed.

Still according to Hassan Al Ibrahim, “The opportunities presented in this new chapter are limitless. Professionals, investors and the Qatari people will all have the chance to be part of the

development of the image of Qatar as it will appear in the minds of visitors for decades to come. "

Beyond the development of tourism products, the chapter also details a program, supported by a global network of tourism promotion offices, to expand the calendar of festivals and tourism events organized each year in Qatar in order to generate interest. from the rest of the world.

Placing the visitor experience at the heart of tourism development

The drive to ensure the best possible experience for visitors to Qatar is at the heart of this new chapter. This strategy offers programs and measures designed to ensure positive experiences for all travelers throughout their stay in Qatar. This includes setting up programs aimed at facilitating interactions and shared experiences between the inhabitants of Qatar and its visitors. The creation of tourism experience units in all relevant public and private entities will complete this system. These units will be responsible for ensuring that their organization's services are continuously improved to provide unique experiences for tourists to Qatar.

The next five years will also be the subject of intensive efforts to develop infrastructure, both physical and digital, to facilitate the movement of travelers to Qatar and within the country. In addition, training programs will be developed and offered to all employees of the tourism industry, from both the public and private sectors.

Establish a new governance structure to improve intersectoral cooperation

To achieve the objectives of this new chapter, the authorities of Qatar have announced the creation of a new governance structure for the tourism sector in order to coordinate, consolidate and focus the efforts of its main members and partners. The Qatar Tourism Authority will become the National Tourism Council and report to a high-level expert council, chaired by His Excellency the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. The Council will ensure the overall development of the sector, monitor the performance of the tourism sector and ensure cross-sectoral collaboration and synergies.

The board of directors of the National Tourism Council will also supervise three new entities whose mission will be to develop large-scale tourism offers and experiences, to promote the destination on an international scale and to consolidate the efforts of partners who operate in the business events sector.

“The tourism sector is unique in its ability to draw on many ancillary sectors in order to be successful. Recognizing the importance of close coordination, the government of Qatar has approved a new governance structure that will strengthen the sector and allow us to work together to achieve even more meaningful results ”commented Al Ibrahim. "This new structure also helps us to strengthen the development of tourism products, international promotion, as well as the development of the business events sector, while ensuring the growing involvement of the private sector."

Finally, by establishing these new policies and structures, this new chapter aims to further develop the main sectoral tools, such as the establishment of a regulatory support framework for tourist establishments, the improvement of measures to facilitate business in the region. tourism sector, and additional visa measures to facilitate visitor access to Qatar.

Five-year objectives

This new chapter aims to attract 5,6 million visitors to Qatar each year by 2023, i.e. double the number of visitors received in 2016. It also aims to achieve an occupancy rate of 72% in all hotel establishments thanks to increased demand and to diversify the tourist accommodation offer in Qatar.

In addition, the country seeks to increase the direct contribution of tourism to national GDP from 19,8 billion QAR in 2016 to 41,3 billion QAR in 2023, which will represent a direct contribution to GDP of 3,8%. (compared to 3,5% in 2016).

To know more : www.visitQatar.qa