HE Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker stressed that the tourism sector in the State of Qatar has witnessed, over the past few years, exceptional development that made Qatar among the top tourist destinations in the region, especially after its distinguished hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 , which was a landmark event in the history of the State, not only for its importance as the most prominent sporting event in the world, but also for its huge impact on various sectors in the country.
In an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) Al Baker said that the success of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 had a direct impact on Qatar's tourism, as the number of tourist to Qatar this year reached a record-breaking 1.5 million, in just the first half of the year.
He touched upon the positive impact of the tournament on the tourism sector in general and the role it played in highlighting Qatar's culture and modernity, pointing out that the tournament demonstrated to the world that Qatar is a world-class destination, from the beginnings of a visitor's travel experience all the way through to their stay and exploration of the country.
The Chairman of Qatar Tourism said, "Qatar had the exquisite privilege of hosting the first FIFA World Cup tournament to ever be held in the Arab world and a tournament that has recently been voted as the greatest this century. Its success was the product of twelve years of imagination, hard work, and a unique brand of infectious enthusiasm that can only be found in Qatar." HE highlighted the major role the tournament played in introducing the world to the State of Qatar, as the country welcomed more than 1.4 million visitors from around the world, and this marked the first visit to the region for many, who were introduced to the authentically warm Arabian hospitality that characterizes Qatar.
He noted that in the lead up to 2022's most anticipated global event, Qatar underwent significant infrastructure development, both for the tournament and in line with the longer-term tourism strategy.
HE Chairman of Qatar Tourism highlighted the rapid change witnessed by the country over the past decade, which included eight state-of-the-art stadiums, a brand-new metro system, the construction of an entirely new cruise terminal, the expansion and beautification of Hamad International Airport and the development of Lusail Qatar's smart, future city, in addition to one-of-a-kind districts and tourism attractions such as Msheireb Downtown Doha which integrates both sustainability and heritage, further presenting to global travellers Qatar's unique blend of modernity and authenticity.
HE affirmed that Qatar Tourism is committed to building on the success of the FIFA World Cup 2022 and continuing to promote Qatar as a world-class travel destination, adding that with its rich cultural heritage, modern infrastructure, and welcoming hospitality, Qatar has something to offer every traveller, and the country is poised to become one of the most sought-after destinations in the world.
HE Akbar Al Baker noted that Qatar Tourism worked to support the success of the tournament, along with the rest of authorities and institutions in the country that did not hesitate to exert every effort to organize this historic event, explaining that Qatar Tourism has delivered on all that it had set out to do to support the success of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and promote the country as a leading global destination for tourism, as Qatar Tourism's efforts included several initiatives aimed at enhancing the country's tourism infrastructure, developing new tourism products and experiences, and promoting Qatar's unique cultural heritage and natural beauty to visitors.
He said, "First and foremost, it was our number one priority to ensure visitors had a memorable experience at every touchpoint throughout their journey and this was something we had to achieve working with our private sector partners," adding that Qatar Tourism worked with its partners to make sure the highest standards are in place across all visitor touchpoints, from providing the necessary training to staff who interact directly with visitors and fans such as hotel receptionists, security personnel in shopping malls and restaurant staff, to licensing and operating holiday homes and making them available for rent during the tournament.
He continued by saying that Qatar Tourism has trained over 33,000 frontline service professionals in Qatar through Qatar Host programme to ensure they are prepared to guide visitors across every touchpoint. Internationally, Qatar Tourism have increased more than 700 global travel trade partners' knowledge of Qatar's diverse product offering.
Source: Qatar News Agency