Tourism & Culture
From The Report: Qatar 2014
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As a strategic priority for national development, the tourism sector is showing promise, and visitor numbers, particularly from the GCC, are on the rise. Business travellers are the mainstay of the sector, though Qatar’s growing status as a sports and shopping destination is also enhancing long-term potential, while a growing regional cruise market and a new port in Doha are raising interest and opportunities in expanding Qatar’s profile as a cruise destination. A new national museum is set to showcase the state’s vision of Qatar’s national identity, an aim that has underpinned cultivation of the country’s tourism and cultural sector.
This chapter contains interviews with Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, Chairman, Qatar Tourism Authority; Hamad Abdulla Al Mulla, CEO, Katara Hospitality; and Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General Manager, Katara Cultural Village Foundation.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Hedging their bets: Continued growth in the business segment runs parallel to investments in sports, leisure and culture
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In recent years Qatar has seen a renewed focus on tourism. “In the past, a prosperous tourism sector was not a top priority. Most resources were being devoted to other areas like energy, health and education,” Hassan Abdulrahman Al Ibrahim, strategy development director at the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), told OBG. “Now that’s changed. As these other areas have matured, tourism has become more of a strategic priority.” Progress in the sector has been gaining momentum in recent years,…

Interview

OBG talks to Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, Chairman, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA)
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Interview:Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi How is strategy being developed in terms of infrastructure in the run-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup? ISSA BIN MOHAMMED AL MOHANNADI: We are introducing the National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030 to continue to develop Qatar as a destination while strengthening the tourism industry, which will have many socio-economic benefits on a national scale in addition to helping prepare for hosting the World Cup. There is projected investment of $11.5bn between…

Interview

OBG talks to Hamad Abdulla Al Mulla, CEO, Katara Hospitality
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Interview:Hamad Abdulla Al Mulla Given the level of competition, how can Qatar compete with established regional destinations? HAMAD ABDULLA AL MULLA: Demand is relevant to each market’s unique positioning and its attractions. Qatar has positioned itself as a niche destination. In the World Travel Awards 2012 Doha was recognised as the World’s Leading Business Travel Destination, and has been nominated in the category World’s Leading Sports Tourism Destination. We believe this is relevant…

Analysis

Heavy lifting: Hotel investments are ramping up capacity ahead of 2022
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Recent years have brought a flood of activity for hotel and resort developers in Qatar. Ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the government plans to invest $20bn in tourism infrastructure, the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) said at Dubai’s Arabian Hotel Investment conference in May 2013. Hosting the influx of visitors expected for one of the world’s highest-attended sporting events is no small feat. In 2010 over 300,000 tourists went to South Africa to watch the World Cup, according to the country’s…

Analysis

Cultural significance: Fostering an artistic space from the ground up
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Qatar’s National Vision 2030 (QNV) – the state’s ambitious development programme – begins not with a discussion of transportation networks or oil and gas plant construction, but with a statement that exemplifies the Qatari authorities’ clear focus on promoting local culture. Indeed, while investors from around the globe are involved in projects in the state that range from metro stations to gas-to-liquids technology, the QNV centres the rationale for all of this on wider human and social…

Interview

OBG talks to Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General Manager, Katara Cultural Village Foundation
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Interview:Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti What demographic of tourist is being targeted through adding new cultural events, and how does this fit into the wider development strategy? KHALID BIN IBRAHIM AL SULAITI: Qatar’s rising population and diverse range of expatriates are changing the demographics of the country. While the state is pursuing the preservation of local heritage, we must also aim to increase the diversity of visitor activities on offer in order to boost demand for our cultural…