QATAR: Qatar Lures More Visitors By Opening Tourism Office In Milan

Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has opened a representative office in Milan to reach out to travellers and tour operators in Italy, which is one of the Gulf state’s fastest growing visitor source markets.

“The number of Italian arrivals increased by a remarkable 16 percent to more than 34,000 in 2015, and we are confident that this market has great potential for growth,” said Rashed Al Qurese, Chief Marketing & Promotions Officer at QTA.

The Milan office will aim to greatly enhance QTA’s on-the-ground presence and capabilities, introducing and developing awareness and knowledge on Qatar as a quality destination through pro-active marketing to tour operators, travel agencies, hospitality partners and media, as well as targeting consumers.

Al Qurese explained that, in recent years, Qatar has successfully built on its reputation as a business travel destination by diversifying their approach to attract increasing number of leisure tourists as well. Total international visitors have soared by 91percent since 2009, with an average annual growth rate of 13.8 percent, making Qatar one of the fastest growing destinations in the world.

Qatar’s marketing campaign in Italy will cover a wide range of promotional initiatives, including workshops, sales visits, travel agents destination training through QTA’s online TAWASH programme, partnerships with tour operators, familiarisation trips, media campaigns and a variety of innovative activities to raise Qatar’s profile as a destination among Italian holiday makers.

“Our focus will be on projecting the message that Qatar combines top quality accommodation and superb leisure facilities in a clean and safe environment, together with an authentic taste of traditional Qatar hospitality and a range of cultural experiences unmatched in the region,” Al Qurese noted. The office in Italy is the fourth to open in Europe and sixth worldwide. It joins an international network covering UK, France, Germany, the GCC markets and South East Asia.