(L) Rawad Sleem, Co-Founder and General Manager, NeXTfairs Doha, (R) Latifa Al Bouabdlioui, DG Islamic Center for Development of Trade.
NeXTfairs for Exhibitions and Conferences and the Islamic Center for the Development of Trade (ICDT) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to host the third edition of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Tourism Fair at Qatar Travel Mart 2023.
Having quickly established itself as an essential travel and tourism platform in Qatar and the region, Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) 2023 will open its doors to exhibitors, buyers, and visitors from November 20-22, 2023 at Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC).
The MOU signing occurred on March 15, 2023, during the 49th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers and the OIC Investment Forum, held in Nouakchott, Mauritania, attended by H E Mr. Hussein Ibrahim Taha, Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Commenting on the MOU signing, Rawad Sleem, Co-Founder and General Manager, NeXTfairs for Exhibitions and Conferences, said: “NeXTfairs is honored to declare the signing of an MOU with ICDT to expand Qatar Travel Mart’s exclusive travel and tourism platform to host the OIC 3rd Tourism Fair and promoting the tourism industry in the 57 OIC countries.”
“The OIC Tourism Fair is aligned with QTM and strives to encourage investment in the travel and tourism sector. It also aims to showcase the real image of Islam as a religion that promotes peace and tolerance. As the host of the World Cup 2022, Qatar is a fantastic destination to showcase how tourism can significantly boost a country’s economic growth and development,” he added.
Latifa Al Bouabdlioui, Director General of the Islamic Center for Development of Trade, said: “We are thrilled to bring the third OIC Tourism Fair to Qatar and appreciate the generosity and collaboration that Rawad Sleem and NeXTfairs for Exhibitions and Conferences have displayed towards helping us achieve our objective.”
She added: “We look forward to bringing the OIC Tourism Fair to Qatar, a country that has set ambitious tourism goals. We have witnessed the country’s transformation journey, which has seen the evolution of cultural destinations, family-friendly venues, superior hotels, and huge investments in infrastructure. It’s an impressive feat, which will bring a lot of inspiration to the fair’s participating countries. Events such as these enable us to build bridges while bolstering investment and trade.”
According to a report by Future Market Insights, the global halal tourism market holds a forecasted revenue of US$255bn in 2022 and is likely to reach US$365bn by 2032.
Qatar has all facilities that Muslim travellers seek – access to mosques and prayer places, restaurants and hotels that cater to halal diets, female-only spas and beauty facilities and a family-friendly environment. In addition, since 2019, Qatar has been ranked the safest country in the world – a factor that appeals to all types of tourists, including female groups or solo travellers. Qatar is expected to welcome 6.24 million tourists in 2028, with visitor spending expected to reach QR102.7bn, an increase of 9.1 percent annually, according to a new report called Qatar Economic and Commercial Activities Guide 2022.
