The Tourism and Exhibition Committee of Qatar Chamber held a meeting at QC's headquarters yesterday in which members discussed about the main obstacles facing the development of the tourism sector and exhibitions in Qatar.
The meeting reviewed a number of the programme to be launched by Qatar Tourism Authority and Qatar Airways in the coming period, QNA reported.
Sheikh Hamad bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Thani, BOD member of Qatar Chamber and Chairman of the Tourism and Exhibition Committee said that the tourism sector is one of the sectors that plays an important role in the economic development process. The Tourism Committee has highlighted a number of challenges facing the tourism sector.
He stressed that the Tourism and Exhibition Committee has identified a number of obstacles in a comprehensive study. He added that he lack of various entertainment venues such as water cities and resorts are among the most prominent obstacles. The occupancy rate of hotels is still below the level and rely heavily on business tourism and GCC visitors.
He said difficulties in obtaining tourist visas, expensive flights and services rates in some hotels, discouraging promotions at retail outlets in malls along with weak promotional programme for Qatar as a global tourist destination are among the main obstacles faced by the tourism sector.
The meeting discussed the difficulties in obtaining tourist visas for some categories, which negatively affects domestic tourism. Members also discussed about the ongoing arrangements to hold a seminar in May, which will attract a large number of businessmen and owners of hotels, tourism and travel offices. The event, which is being organised in cooperation with international offices, will review the main tourist programme that will be launched during the coming period as part of promoting and advertising them.
