DOHA: Nearly 75,000 people from the GCC visited Qatar during the Eid Al Fitr holidays, according to Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA).
Hotel occupancy rates during the Eid holiday in Qatar reached more than 80 per cent in many hotels, with some recording 100 percent occupancy, said QTA.
The visitors joined a large number of citizens and residents in the fun, games and entertainment as part of the QTA’s Eid Festival.
Activities on offer included amusement rides, an international circus, music festivals, cultural and artistic sightseeing tours, theatrical performances, firework and laser shows, as well as other outdoor activities including paragliding and shooting.
They were held in various locations including Doha Exhibition Center, malls, Katara Cultural Village, Souq Waqif, museums, Aquapark and The Pearl Qatar among others.
The Eid Festival was organised by QTA to elevate Qatar as a family tourism destination that was supported with QTA’s launch of the Eid destination campaign in the GCC, the largest source of tourism to the country. Over the second quarter of this year, QTA announced GCC visitors increased 17 percent and international arrivals increased 6.6 percent, over the same period last year.
“We are delighted with the success of this year’s Eid Al Fitr festival and the thousands of citizens, residents and tourists who have joined us for this week of special celebration. We thank all our partners for their support and contributions in spreading the festive spirit throughout Qatar,” said Hend Zainal, QTA’s Head of Marketing and PR. The seasonal festivals are part of QTA’s efforts to stimulate the tourism industry as a driver of economic diversification and solidify Qatar’s reputation as a preferred family destination in the region, added Zainal.
“We expect visitors will have experienced something new in Qatar and will return throughout the year to discover more of what we have to offer,” she said.
Zainal explained that hotel occupancy rates during the Eid holidays in Qatar hit more than 80 percent in many hotels, with some recording 100 percent occupancy.
This year’s Eid activity partners included the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage; Katara Cultural Village (Katara), Souq Waqif, Aquapark, Sawt Al Rayan, the Pearl Qatar, Museum of Islamic Art, Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum, Al Dosari Zoo and game reserve, Qatar Air Sports Committee, Lusail Shooting Club, while participating malls and commercial centers comprised Villaggio, City Center, Landmark Mall, Hyatt Plaza, Lagoona Mall and Al Khor Mall.The Peninsula
