DOHA: Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) leads a delegation comprising seven hotels and three destination management companies to boost Qatar's tourism at the annual ITB Asia 2014 Exhibition that opens Wednesday in Singapore.
Organised by Messe Berlin, the three-day trade show and convention for Asian Travel Market, in its seventh year, opens at Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
The QTA delegation will promote Qatar as a leading destination for Meetings Incentives Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) and leisure tourism.
The worldclass facilities of the Qatar National Convention Centre will be a unique selling point.
Emphasis will be placed on the country's location and accessibility, and direct flights to over 140 cities around the world through the Qatar Airways network, including excellent services to all major South East Asian capitals, the Authority said Tuesday.
ASEAN economies are a potential growth market for business and leisure travel. Besides extensive point-to-point travel connectivity via Doha and its new Hamad International Airport, QTA will promote longer stopovers for travellers en route from South East Asia to Europe, said QTA.
A significant portion of the Qatar's pavilion at ITB Asia expo showcase the country's cultural attractions, the Authority added.
More than 850 Asia Pacific and other international exhibitors from all travel trade sectors are expected to attend the travel expo.
In 2013 9,100 visitors from 110 countries attended the expo.
ITB Asia this year will have a dedicated day of events and conferences around Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in tourism tomorrow.
The inaugural CSR day will focus on economically, social-ethically and environmentally responsible tourism, expo organisers said.
ITB Asia Executive Director Nino Gruettke said, "As the region's leading travel trade show, we have designed CSR day to rally our delegates in their efforts to create responsible tourism products and services. We believe that CSR is not a choice, but a necessity for long-term business success particularly for the travel industry." (QNA)
