BY RAYNALD C RIVERA
DOHA: With the swelling number of tourists in Souq Waqif, the souq management has opened an Information and Tourism Centre whose function is to guide visitors on the various things the souq could offer from shopping to dining to hospitality.
“Souq Waqif is a unique historical and cultural hub in Qatar which attracts many tourists so the centre was opened to assist visitors,” said Hamad Al Marri, Manager, Information and Tourism Centre.
Souq Waqif has witnessed an increase in the number of visitors, many of whom come from neighbouring countries, with the opening of a number of additional attractions including the Gold Souq which houses 42 shops, the Handicraft Centre which has 22 shops, the Souq Waqif Arts Centre which contains exhibition halls and offers art courses for free, and nine hotels and apartments.
On Tuesday five hotels including Al Jasra, Al Mirqab, Al Najada, Arumaila, and Musheireb under the Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels brand were officially opened by the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser marking another milestone in the history of Souq Waqif as a major tourist destination in the country.
Since the centre opened days ago, it receives a hundred visitors during normal days which reaches up to a thousand during weekends and special days, said Al Marri.
“We currently have 12 staff members who work in two shifts, all of them Qataris,” said Al Marri, adding the number of staff who also act as guides could increase in the future depending on the need.
The centre offers valuable information to tourists about Souq Waqif which has not only emerged as a tourist destination for its unique architecture but also for the hundreds of shops selling various products from garments to spices to souvenir items and a wide selection of restaurants.
The Peninsula
