DOHA: Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) is taking part in ITB Berlin 2015 to promote Qatar in the German-speaking European market and exhibit a range of attractions, services and initiatives in Qatar in its drive to boost international tourist arrivals.
“We are seeing a highly encouraging growth with the travel trade, media and consumers and it is clear that Qatar ‘has what it takes’ to appeal to visitors from this part of the world.
“Last year, Qatar welcomed around 40,000 arrivals from Germany, 6,000 from Austria and nearly 8,000 from Switzerland. These are solid foundations on which to build,” said Rashed Al Qurese, Chief Marketing & Promotions Officer, QTA.
QTA is leading a delegation for ITB which runs until Sunday. The team includes 22 tourism organisations comprising 14 hotels and eight destination management companies (DMCs).
“We will provide trade visitors with a comprehensive insight into destinations and their attractions. The wide range of hotels and other tourism suppliers taking part means our stand is effectively a ‘one-stop shop’ for doing business with Qatar’s tourism sector,” added AlQurese.
Qatar’s hospitality offerings will be showcased. Many leading international hotel brands will exhibit their products, together with local and regional hotel groups.
“Collectively, participants will provide visitors with an excellent cross-section of Qatar’s hospitality offerings, focusing on the five-star, four-star and boutique hotel sectors,” he said.
These will include Grand Hyatt Doha, Grand Regal, Four Seasons, InterContinental Doha, Ritz-Carlton Doha, Sharq Village & Spa, St Regis, Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel, Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels, The Torch, Retaj Hotels & Hospitality, Concord Hotel Doha and The Plaza Inn.
The new hotels — Banana Island Resort by Antanara and Marza Malaz Kempinski will launch properties on the international market.
Many local top tour operators and DMCs will be represented with QTA. They include Arabian Adventures Qatar, Qatar International Adventures, Gulf Adventures, Regency Holidays, Discover Qatar (holiday division of Qatar Airways), Sand Dunes, Travel Designer and Arab Destination of Tourism.
The companies have experience in looking after European visitors, providing ground transport, tours, sightseeing and specialised arrangements, such as incentive travel itineraries.
ITB will also give QTA an opportunity to promote other attractions, services and initiatives. The stand will feature a promotion for QTA’s ‘Tawash’ online destination training programme, where travel agents and other tourism professionals are able to sign up, via on-stand tablets at www.tawashqatar.com and start the process of becoming accredited experts on Qatar.
The programme, which has attracted European travel agents, aims to build an international team of authoritative ‘tourism ambassadors’ for the destination in their home markets.
Al Qurese emphasised that while participation in ITB is a major highlight of QTA’s promotional activity in Germany, it is only one element in an extensive programme of initiatives to enhance Qatar’s profile in the market.
“Since last year’s ITB, we have set up a representative office providing us with a permanent on-the-ground presence in the German-speaking countries,” he noted.
“This has reinforced our day-to-day marketing capabilities and liaison with the travel trade and media. We are now able to engage in a full range of year-round marketing activities, including trade visits and calls, road shows, workshops, travel agents’ training, familiarisation visits, media relations and cooperative marketing projects with airline partners and other stakeholders.”
The Peninsula
