QTA Chairman Issa Al Mohannadi
DOHA: With its rich and authentic cultural offerings and safe and welcoming atmosphere, Qatar has become the destination of choice for families, which is reflected in the increase in the number of family visitors in 2012, said Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) Chairman Issa Al Mohannadi.
Qatar is also an established destination for business in the Meetings Initiatives and Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector and will continue to be a hub of international sports with an increasingly significant role to play in the region and on the international stage, Al Mohannadi told The Qatar News Agency on the sidelines of an ITB exhibition in Berlin.
Al Mohannadi said that the QTA is about to finish its new tourism strategy, noting that the authority was keen to take into consideration all remarks of the concerned parties inside and outside Qatar.
“QTA sees ITB as an all-important event to showcase Qatar and all our stakeholders as we develop a new tourism strategy for the country that looks to raise awareness of all that Qatar has to offer in Europe and further afield” said Al Mohannadi.
The new strategy is being developed in collaboration with Qatar Airways, the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Katara Cultural Village and the Qatar Museums Authority.
“The first phase of the strategy will extend until 2016 ... and this phase will form a leap in achieving such a strategy,” said Al Mohannadi.
“It will be followed by a second phase which ends before Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup, whereas the third stage copes with Qatar National Vision 2030,” said Al Mohannadi.
He said QTA saw ITB Berlin as an opportunity to outline the major development of tourism infrastructure taking place in Doha and highlight latest developments.
“With the opening of several major hotels and many more under construction in the country, Qatar is ready to welcome the world to its shores.
“QTA has also staged cultural festivals and supported several international business events and sports fixtures to underline the country’s appeal,” said Al Mohannadi.
The Peninsula
