DOHA: Tourist arrivals in the country totalled over one million in 2012, according to Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA).
The growth in tourist traffic in the third quarter was 20 percent, QTA Chairman, Issa bin Mohammad Al Muhannadi, said in a statement issued on the occasion of the National Day.
He said Qatar will be a favourite and unique tourist destination after QTA launched a strategy to help promote tourism and maintain Qatar’s customs, traditions and culture.
He said QTA cooperated with specialist international institutions such as World Tourism Organisation and Global Society of the Exhibition Industry to develop a system of licensing for tourism products and services.
QTA is also keen to promote the industry of events to boost tourism and the economic movement in the state.
He stressed the importance of entertainment activities in the promotion of tourism and related sectors such as hotels and resorts.
Al Muhannadi said interesting events attract a large number of visitors and tourists, such Wrestling World Championship, Disney on Ice, Qatar International Food Festival, Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha festivals and other activities.
QTA is keen to release tourism statistics regularly to provide decisionmakers and investors with latest developments in the tourism industry to help them set plans and strategies. Al Muhannadi said QTA developed its annual exhibitions and supported the private sector by allowing companies to run exhibitions organised by QTA.
Being responsible for the promotion of Qatar as a tourist destination, QTA is also keen to participate in international exhibitions, and support the private sector by highlighting its role in these expos, Al Muhannadi said.
QTA also launched a website and applications for smartphone for activities, festivals and exhibitions in the state, he added.
It opened a representative office in Paris, the second after London, and launched the second stage of its ambitious partnership with Paris Saint-Germain to promote Qatar’s tourism sites.
QTA is negotiating with important sectors in the state to implement programmes of Qatar Airways, Qatar Museums Authority, Mowasalat and Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, he said. In cooperation with regional and international organisations, QTA took part in developing the unified Arab strategy for tourism adopted during the Arab Summit.
Al Muhannadi said memorandums of understanding in the field of tourism were signed with Ecuador, Brazil and Argentina, which QTA considered future markets as part of its new strategy.
It also activated negotiations with China to sign an MoU as a prelude to an agreement to approve Qatar as a tourist destination for China.
QTA also signed an MoU with India to promote cooperation in joint exhibitions.
Marking the National Day, QTA launched a promotional campaign in the GCC to invite citizens to visit Qatar and enjoy events from December 15 to 19.
QTA also requested all hotels in Doha to raise the national flag and distribute it guests. It also launched a competition for the best decor for hotel entrance.
QTA allocated eight offices along the Corniche to help visitors and inform them about the most important events and tours available during their stay.
The offices are equipped with screens to display participation by citizens and residents in QTA initiative in October.
The Peninsula
