QATAR: More And More Chinese Tourists Are Flocking Qatar, Thanks To Qatar Tourism Authority And Visa Free For Chinese Tourists

Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) office in Beijing, along with the other two QTA offices at Shanghai and Guangzhou, has achieved great success during the first quarter of this year in attracting more tourists from China to Qatar.

The managing director of the office, Jiajing, told reporters in Beijing that 15,158 Chinese tourists visited Qatar during the first three months of this year, a 68% rise over the same period last year.

He said this figure was for tourists only and did not include those going on business.

The huge success is attributed to the efforts exerted by QTA offices in China to promote Qatar as a new destination for traditional Arab heritage.

He pointed out QTA offices in China have printed and distributed a brochure in Chinese and used popular Chinese social media and chat applications such as Weibo and WeChat to promote Qatar as a promising destination.

Besides, local media representatives and social media influencers were invited to visit Qatar.

Travel agents were also invited to tour Qatar so they could better market the country to their Chinese clients.

QTA Beijing office managing director stressed that Qatar is expected to be a favourite destination among Chinese travellers, in particular as they do not require an entry visa and given visa free on arrival.

As part of the strong friendly relationships between China and Qatar, Peking University School of Foreign Languages, Department of Arabic Language and Culture, has celebrated the passage of 120 years.

Its establishment which also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationships between the two countries.

Wu Bingbing, deputy director of the department and professor of the Qatar Chair, said Qatar has extended generous support to the department and donated $10mn as an endowment to create the Qatar Chair.

The department uses the annual profit of $500,000 to further expand and improve its studies and researches in the field.

He said also that the department has fruitful co-operation with Qatar University and other universities at the Education City, Qatar.

Some Chinese students come to Qatar to study Arabic, and others are research scholars and their number is steadily increasing.

Qatar Chair is not only concerned with Arabic language studies but also covers Middle East studies.

Bingbing stressed that the graduates have good opportunities to work for the government and other major private companies as the Chinese interests are steadily increasing in the Middle East and it helps bring about more understanding among the Arab world and China.


Tourism Observer

QATAR: Visitor Arrivals From Gulf States To Qatar Fall 18% In 7 Months

Qatar’s hospitality sector continues to record weak performance, as visitor arrivals from the Gulf Cooperation Council and other Arab countries continues to fall as the Gulf diplomatic crisis enters its fourth month.

Qatar recorded a drop of 18 percent in visitor numbers from its neighbor countries in the first seven months of 2017 to 656,681 compared with 804,875 during the same period last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics.

The diplomatic crisis seems to have also impacted visitor arrivals from other Arab countries as a nine percent decline was recorded during the period.

However, in the first half of the year, Qatar registered 10 percent growth in visitor arrivals from Europe and the Americas, over the corresponding period in 2016.

The increase in arrivals can be attributed to the government waiving visa requirements for 80 nationalities and the launch of an online visa application service for all nationalities.

Qatar, with financial reserves of $340 billion (SR1.27 trillion), has been supporting its economy through the infusion of capital, which, according to a Moody’s estimate, was around $40 billion in the first two months of the conflict with its neighbors.

The ratings agency has changed the outlook on Qatar’s rating to negative from stable in July, saying that the dispute has severely impacted trade, tourism and banking in Qatar, and increased the country’s financing costs.

Acknowledging this for the first time, the Qatar Tourism Authority in its latest tourism report said: May and June saw a drop in arrivals, partly due to slowdown typically seen during Ramadan, which this year fell between May 25 and June 24, and as a result of the regional diplomatic dispute, with large falls in arrivals from GCC and other Arab countries.

Undoubtedly, the diplomatic dispute with three neighboring countries has had a negative impact on visitor arrivals during the summer months, rendering them slower than usual, Hassan Al-Ibrahim, the agency’s chief tourism development officer noted in the report.

Qatar is facing a demand-supply mismatch in the hospitality industry in the run up to the 2022 World Cup.

The country saw the opening of three new properties in the first half of 2017, adding 1,244 new rooms and bringing the total number of rooms available in Qatar to 24,460 across 123 properties, according to hospitality consultancy firm STR.

STR’s July pipeline database shows eight hotel projects in Qatar set to open by the end of 2017.

These additional 1,669 rooms represent a 6.8 percent growth on top of the country’s existing supply, an STR analyst.

Qatar’s hotel sector is expected to see continuous development in tourism infrastructure, with additional hotels and serviced apartments as the country gears up for the 2022 World Cup.

A number of hotel and retail projects are being developed across the country, with the country’s Lusail area seeing increased activity of late.



Tourism Observer

QATAR: Qatar Tourism Authority Requests Hotels To Standby Tourists Affected By Gulf Crisis

Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has urged hotels in the country to “extend a helping hand” to tourists and visitors irrespective of their origin or nationality.

The circular sent to hotel establishments yesterday aims to provide domestic and overseas visitors to Qatar “the best of our nation’s hospitality regardless of background.”

In pursuit of excellence and as we go through the current exceptional circumstances, we are certain that you will continue to adhere to professional standards of conduct when dealing with tourists and visitors, QTA said.

Such kind gesture and assistance in accordance with the ‘Global Code of Ethics for Tourism’ by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation will ensure that all visitors’ rights are respected and protected, QTA has reminded.

In the same circular, QTA also requested hotels to provide support to guests who need to change or cancel their reservations due to the ongoing situation.

QTA expressed confidence that hotels will continue to fulfil their role as ambassadors to Qatar and the traditional values of hospitality that our people are renowned for.

QTA also thanked hotels for their efforts on supporting the tourism sector, which has achieved international industry recognition for its authentic hospitality and impeccable service.

Article 1 of the Code cites tourism’s contribution to mutual understanding and respect between peoples and societies.

The understanding and promotion of the ethical values common to humanity, with an attitude of tolerance and respect for the diversity of religious, philosophical and moral beliefs, are both the foundation and the consequence of responsible tourism, the provision said.

Stakeholders in tourism development and tourists themselves should observe the social and cultural traditions and practices of all peoples, including those of the minorities and indigenous peoples and to recognise their worth, it added.

The host communities, on the one hand, and local professionals, on the other, should acquaint themselves with and respect the tourists who visit them and find out about their lifestyles, tastes and expectations; the education and training imparted to professionals contribute to a hospitable welcome, the provision continued.

The Code also stresses the role of tourism in attaining sustainable development, especially in safeguarding the environment.

It also cites tourists’ rights in going to various places of the host country without being subject to excessive formalities or discrimination.

QATAR: Food Tourism To Strengthen Ties between Qatar And Philippines

Food tourism is one of the sectors that could further enhance trade and cultural relations between the Philippines and Qatar, the chairman of the United Filipino Organisations in Qatar (Ufoq) said.

Ufoq chairman Ressie S Fos said Filipino restaurants and eateries were among the Philippine businesses that took centre stage during the opening ceremony of the 119th Philippine Independence Day celebration, which concludes tomorrow at City Centre Rotana.

Organised by the Philippine embassy in Doha and Ufoq, in collaboration with Kulinarya Qatar, the event not only commemorates the Philippines' independence but also aims to enhance and promote the country's business and the Filipino entrepreneurial spirit in the local market.

Food represents the many facets a country can offer to local and international tourists.

Regional provinces in the Philippines showcase their own local cuisine, which attracts many tourists to their respective areas; and the attention generated by these visitors will definitely have an impact on the tourism and business sectors.

Citing the annual Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF), Fos said Qatar Tourism Authority underscores the role of food tourism in promoting unity by bringing different cultures together through global cuisine.

Kulinarya Qatar, an initiative by the Philippine embassy launched in 2015, serves as a vehicle to promote Filipino cuisine in this part of the world, and it aims to attract Qatari tourists and other expatriates to explore the Philippines either for leisure or business.

Moreover, the initiative is the platform through which the Philippine embassy can support Filipino restaurant owners and entrepreneurs in Qatar because Kulinarya Qatar, as a brand, is community-driven and supported by the Filipino community,Kulinarya Qatar said.

Since its inception, Kulinarya Qatar has organised events such as ‘Iftar ng Bayan’, which attracted 200 visitors, while the ‘Filipino Community and Family Day’ received around 6,000 visitors.

Similarly, the ‘Filipino Food Fiesta’ gathered 1,500 patrons of Filipino cuisine, while a three-day “thanksgiving” event was attended by 12,000 people.

In 2017, Kulinarya Qatar launched the ‘Be Fit with Kulinarya Qatar’ during National Sport Day, drawing more than 3,000 participants.

Fos suggested that Filipino restaurant owners and entrepreneurs in Qatar can also organise an event similar to the QIFF but one that caters to non-Filipinos in Qatar as well.

There are a number of Filipino dishes that are sought by Arabs and other expatriates in Qatar.

Some restaurants and cafes that carry the Filipino brand have a good number of international patrons, he added.

QATAR: Hotels To Improve Environmental Standards

Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) has urged hotels in Qatar to seek environmental sustainability certification to comply with the new hotel classification system being implemented by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA).

The move is being made to enhance the quality of operations amid the increasing number of hotels in the country.

QGBC communications head and sustainability consultant Hamoda Youssef said: “In the new classification system regulations of QTA, there are a number of environmental sustainability requirements under the mandatory criteria such as energy consumption and waste segregation, in addition to those that fall under the rating criteria.”

He added: “Operational expenses are increasing and at the same time the market is slowing down. There will be rise in the number of rooms for World Cup 2022 which will need up to 60,000 rooms, so the competition is increasing.

“To keep your quality you have to be intelligent and in our opinion utilizing sustainability certification system is the right answer to maintain quality and optimize operation cost,” he said.

He cited Green Key, a leading sustainability certification entity which has certified more than 2,600 hotels in 55 countries using various criteria such as staff engagement, environmental management, guest information, water and energy, food and beverage, waste administrative indoor environment, green area, green activities and corporate social responsibility.

“It’s not just environmental sustainability but the overall aspect of the establishment is looked into which makes it heavily aligned with QTA’s new classification system - from mandatory requirements to rating and scoring criteria,” he said.

Guest room requirements, smoking policy, business centres, staff training and development, environmental sustainability requirements, water filtering and landscaping are among the mandatory requirements he mentioned.

“Having certification system in place will not only help you get those additional points, but also going through a certification process will help you achieve the mandatory requirements,” he said.

QATAR: Qatar Airways Offering Free Luxury Hotel, Visa To Passengers Stopping Over In Doha

Qatar Airways has launched a unique stopover package in partnership with Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) to promote and market Qatar as a destination of choice for international travellers, offering transit passengers the opportunity to discover Doha with free luxury hotel stays and complimentary transit visas.

The unique offer is part of a broader campaign called +Qatar which looks to encourage all transit passengers to consider adding Qatar to their itinerary.

This unique offer from QTA and Qatar Airways allows passengers travelling through Doha to experience a taste of the Middle East for free.

Throughout the summer, the national carrier, with the support of QTA, will give passengers the chance to turn a layover into a stayover by offering four and five star hotel accommodation at no charge to those transiting through Doha.

The promotion invites all Qatar Airways passengers to add Doha to their vacation by taking advantage of a free one-night hotel stay from a selection of the country’s best four- and five-star hotels in Doha.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways is more than just a national flag-carrier for Qatar; we are proudly patriotic and want to share Qatar’s many exciting attractions with our passengers from around the world. This exclusive initiative provides the opportunity to add an extra element to our passengers’ existing travel plans with a complimentary hotel stay in some of Doha’s finest hotels.

We want to ensure that our passengers have a memorable experience every time they travel with Qatar Airways, and now, we’re going even further to make sure that we exceed their expectations.”

Chief Tourism Development Officer, Qatar Tourism Authority, Hassan Al Ibrahim, said: “It was a great source of pride for all of us in Qatar when we launched the transit visa last November. We have already seen a surge in stopover passengers, with a 53 per cent increase recorded in March 2017, compared to the same month last year.

With the launch of +Qatar today, we aim to convert a larger portion of the 30 million passengers passing through Hamad International Airport into stopover visitors. We are delighted to make Qatar more accessible to people from around the world and invite them to discover our country, our cultural heritage and our natural treasures.”

Passengers transiting through Doha can extend their stay to make the most of their journey taking in the sights of Doha with a completely free night courtesy of Qatar Airways and QTA or stay a little longer with a second night’s stay for a modest $50 booking fee.

Passengers can choose from hotels such as The Four Seasons, Marriott Marquis, Radisson Blu and Oryx Rotana.

The free hotel accommodation, available throughout the summer, will offer passengers the opportunity to explore Doha and experience city tours, desert safari adventures or a dinner cruise aboard a traditional dhow, giving visitors a taste of authentic Arabian hospitality, courtesy of Discover Qatar.

To be eligible for this offer, passengers simply book their flight on www.qatarairways.com, select ‘multi-city’ and choose their hotel once they receive their flight confirmation. The online transit visa application is also free and is eligible for those in transit between five and 96 hours.

This ground-breaking offer is available for all Qatar Airways passengers, both Premium and Economy, demonstrating the airline’s commitment to its brand ethos of ‘Going Places Together’.

To maximise their time in Qatar, visitors can explore additional stopover packages offered by Discover Qatar.

This unique offer with QTA has been launched by Qatar Airways' newly created destination management company, Discover Qatar, and is just one of many new initiatives that will be launched over the coming months to generate awareness of, and visits to, Qatar.

It was designed to kick off the newly launched campaign ‘+Qatar’ from Qatar Tourism Authority and is aimed at supporting the growing demand for tourism in Qatar.

This exciting and innovative announcement comes as the airline celebrates its 20th year of operations, marking two decades of growth, industry leadership and innovation.

This year, Hamad International Airport (HIA) was also ranked the Sixth Best Airport in the World by the 2017 Skytrax World Airport Awards, as well as having been named Best Airport in the Middle East for the third consecutive year, and recognised as having the Best Staff Service in the Middle East for the second year in a row.

Known for introducing industry firsts, Qatar Airways is one of the fastest-growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world. Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of 197 aircraft flying to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations across six continents. Exciting new destinations being launched in 2017 include Nice, Chang Mai, Dublin and Skopje.

Qatar Airways invites passengers to start planning their next trip with amazing discounts on flights across all cabin classes. With the airline’s Global Sales Campaign, which starts on April 26 and lasts through May 3, families, friends and couples can book flights to any destination across the airline’s network of more than 150 destinations across the globe, with validity to travel until June 21, 2017.

Travellers can now avail offer of up to 40% off on all-inclusive fares. To take advantage of this offer, travellers should visit their travel agent, any Qatar Airways sales office or qatarairways.com/travelnow.

Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer Ehab Amin said: “We are delighted to be able to offer our passengers such a wide variety of choice in choosing a destination. With this new promotion, passengers can easily choose where to go next with amazing offers across all of our cabin classes. Travellers are truly spoilt for choice with Qatar Airways’ extended network of more than 150 destinations.”

Recently the airline revealed its latest premium class product “Qsuite,” a fully transformable suite of seats that allows parties of two, three or four to create their own unique space within the Business Class cabin.

This game-changing patented design is set to transform the face of aviation and Business Class travel by bringing a First Class product to the Business Class cabin. Qsuite also features the first ever double bed in Business Class, another ground-breaking innovation brought to passengers by Qatar Airways.

The airline was named the World’s Best Business Class by Skytrax in 2016, and its home hub, Hamad International Airport, was also recently given five stars at the Skytrax World Airport Awards, as well as being named the World’s Sixth Best Airport.

Qatar Airways is one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, with a network of more than 150 destinations. The airline will add a number of exciting new destinations to its growing network in 2017, including Chiang Mai, Yanbu, Dublin, Nice, Skopje and many more, flying passengers on board its modern fleet of 195 aircraft.

Qatar Tourism Very Low

Despite a stronger third quarter, Qatar has still seen fewer visitors so far this year than at the same time in 2015.

In a statement yesterday, the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) said the country received 2.18 million visitors from January to September 2016.

That’s down about 70,000 people from last year, when it counted 2.25 million by the end of September.

The difference is particularly stark because tourism grew 8 percent last year over the same period in 2014.

The slowdown comes at a time when officials are making a renewed push to bolster tourism as a way of diversifying the economy away from oil and gas.

The overall dip likely has to do with a sluggish first half of the year, when tourism numbers fell 6 percent to 1.4 million visitors.

Officials blamed this on Ramadan, a slow travel season for GCC residents, who account for a big chunk of Qatar’s tourists.

However, the numbers improved in August and September due to the annual Summer Festival and ensuing Eid Al Adha festivities, which attracted 100,000 visitors from Saudi Arabia alone last month.

Looking forward, Qatar expects to welcome its first ship on Oct. 18.

The new traffic from cruises is expected to prompt “modest increases” in visitor arrivals in October, QTA said in a statement.

Additionally, officials announced last month that visitors who have a layover in Qatar for five hours or more can now get a free four-day transit visa. This is regardless of nationality or airline.

And in the longer term, the country is planning to offer visas-on-arrival for visitors from China, India and Russia.

Qatar Offers 96 Hours Transit

In order to promote Qatar as a world-class stopover destination, Qatar Airways, Qatar Tourism Authority and Qatar's Ministry of Interior have announced a revised tourism visa scheme available to passengers transiting through Doha.

"The new transit visa structure now allows passengers with a minimum transit time of five hours in Hamad International Airport, to stay in Qatar for up to 96 hours (four days), without the requirement to apply ahead of time for an entry visa," a statement issued by Qatar Airways said.

Qatar Airways operates three flights daily from Kathmandu to Doha, connecting Nepal to over 150 destinations worldwide, according to the statement.

QATAR: Rotana Celebrates Opening Of Centro Capital Doha

Rotana, a leading international hotel management company, announced the trial opening of Centro Capital Doha, the group’s fourth hotel in town during a press conference held at the new property.

Located 20 minutes away from Hamad International Airport, Centro Capital Doha offers 229 rooms and studios all in a contemporary and stylish setting. Great care has also been taken to optimise room configurations and styles. Some of the special features include the design as well as functionality of each piece of furniture, innovatively styled bathrooms, and strategic placement of room lighting and controls including the latest technology and in-room entertainment options.

Addressing the official opening of Centro Capital Doha, Ali Ibrahim Abdullah Al Malki, chairman of Al Malki group, said: "We are witnessing today the trial opening of Centro Capital Doha, the second collaboration between Al Malki group and Rotana following Sedra Residences at the Pearl Qatar. This reflects the mutual efforts for the two groups in supporting the local hospitality industry. By introducing this new lifestyle hotel brand, has proved its distinctiveness in the UAE and it is time to introduce this uniqueness in Qatar.”

“Thanks to the government's as well as Qatar Tourism Authority's tireless efforts, Qatar has become a major player on the regional and global tourism map. This has been achieved by hosting global events and providing the right climate for tourism through the facilities that have been created, which has led to the evolvement of the tourism industry in the past five years. Also, the demand for hotel rooms, especially in the 4 star hotels category which deliver luxury at affordable prices has therefore risen in the past five years. In line with this, we are witnessing the trial launch of the first Centro brand in town,” he added.

Speaking during the inaugural ceremony, Nasser Al Nowais, chairman of Rotana Hotel Management Corporation, said: Rotana has been a long-standing player in Qatar's hospitality sector and the launch of our fourth property in town Centro Capital Doha reaffirms this position."

"Rotana is working hard to be a major player in the global tourism sector, especially with several hotels being launched in the past year. Going forward, we have extensive expansion plans in Africa and Europe and we have recently successfully opened our first hotel in Istanbul, Turkey. During the course of this year, we will launch hotels in Turkey, in Kinshasa, Congo, Saudi Arabia and Amman," Al Nowais added.

“With the current launch, the total number of hotels managed by Rotana has gone up to 101 hotels, where 56 of them are fully operating and 45 are under construction. Rotana Hotel Management Corporation currently employs around 14,000 employees, and this number will reach 29,000 once work on all under-construction hotels are completed,” Al Nowais said.

Commenting on the launch, Omer Kaddouri, president and CEO of Rotana said: “We are delighted to witness the trial opening of Centro Capital Doha which marks the debut of the Centro brand in Qatar. The hotel is characterised by distinct accommodation in a modern environment designed primarily for business travellers who seek chic accommodation at affordable prices.”

“Centro Capital Doha is an additional milestone that will be added to our portfolio. We are here today to witness a new era of hotel services that cater to the new generation of traveller requirements, with high quality, reasonable prices and competitiveness.

“With the opening of Centro Capital Doha, our inventory in Doha has increased to more than 1,229 rooms, with plans to open two additional brands - the Plaza Rayhaan Doha and Downtown Arjaan Doha. These are scheduled to open in 2017 and 2018 respectively, and will increase Rotana keys in Doha to nearly 2,000,” Kaddouri concluded.

Luca Medda, general manager of Centro Capital Doha, explained: “There is a high demand in the local hospitality market for affordable accommodation that offers comfort and quality service which is exactly the conceptualisation of the Centro brand. Today we are witnessing the birth of Centro in Qatar, the lifestyle affordable hotel brand that is young and fresh in its approach, original in its presentation, and dynamic in its offerings coinciding with the rapid growth of the Qatari hospitality industry, and the market’s need for modern, stylish and affordable business hotels.”

Centro is a contemporary brand that delivers superior accommodation at an affordable price, redefining the concept of economical comfort. It is designed for a new generation of travelling executives who demand both finesse and functionality at reasonable rates.

Expressed through its contemporary architecture and unique living spaces embodying the personality of an executive hotel, Centro Capital Doha will feature amenities customised to the business traveller’s needs, including two meeting rooms, a gymnasium and a swimming pool. In addition, several dining options are available to suit the needs of all guests including, ‘c.taste’, an all-day dining restaurant offering buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner; c.mondo, a bar designed to provide a number of informal zones for business gatherings and entertainment; and ‘c.deli’, an innovative 24-hour take-away dining concept that allows guests to enjoy great food and drinks in addition to the purchase of any items they may need during their stay for their convenience.

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.

QATAR: Cruise Ships Dock In Doha As Qatar Tourism Grows

Tourist arriving at Doha Port

As part of an ongoing effort to raise Qatar’s profile as a international tourism destination, three cruise ships have docked in Doha in the past week, the state’s tourism authority has said.

Seabourn Soujourn, MS Island Sky and MS Europa 2 brought with them hundreds of international visitors when they stopped in Qatar as part of separate regional tours.

They are among five eight ships that will include Doha as a destination on their wider Gulf itineraries this winter season, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) added in a statement.

The visits come ahead of Qatar hosting a two-day regional cruise ship forum next month at the Marsa Malaz Kempinski Hotel. Representatives from 11 international cruise companies will join government officials in tourism, immigration, ports and security to discuss future plans for the industry in the Gulf.

“The cruise industry cannot succeed without cooperation between all sides and this is a unique opportunity to find the common ground needed to overcome challenges and lay the ground work for a thriving cruise sector,” Hassan Al Ibrahim, QTA’s chief tourism development officer, said in a statement earlier this month.

In the latest trips, visitors spent a day in Doha and watched Ardha (sword dance) performances, took photos with falcons and participated in organized tours to key landmarks before returning to their ships at the end of the day.

Globally, the cruise ship industry is expected to grow in the coming years as operators launch 55 new ships between 2015 and 2020, according to an industry organization.

Qatar has said it wants to capture a larger share of this market.

More tourists

Qatar has for some years been talking about trying to develop its appeal as a destination for cruise ships as part of an overall strategy of significantly increasing the number of visitors traveling to its shores.

Speaking at the Sea Trade cruise forum in Abu Dhabi two years ago, QTA Chairman Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi said the government was considering transforming the old Doha Port near the Museum of Islamic Art into a docking station for cruise ships.

At the time, QTA said the Gulf currently captures only 1 percent of the global cruise market. Al Mohannadi added: “The presence of a home port for cruise lines would enhance not only Qatar but the Gulf’s position as a tourist destination and promote economic diversity. As the tourism industry develops in Qatar and across the Gulf, the cruise market can be a pillar of growth that accelerates our efforts and brings more people to discover the products on offer.”

Construction publication MEED reported last October that Qatar’s public works authority Ashghal had invited contractors to submit bids for the reconfiguration of the old port. However, Ashghal has not confirmed this and there have been no further details publicly issued on the project since then.

QTA has previously said it wants to attract up to 7 million visitors by 2030. Recent official figures show that some headway is being made towards this target, as mid-year statistics published by QTA showed visitor numbers were up by more than 100,000 in the first six months, putting it on track to meet its target of of 3 million visitors by the end of this year.

Cruise ship Island Sky at Doha Port

Visitors from neighboring Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia made up 41 percent of the total tourist numbers from January to June this year, and overall figures were up 7 percent on the same period last year.

Meanwhile, QTA figures for the first nine months of the year showed that nearly 2.25m visitors came to Qatar.

Outside the GCC, arrivals were also up from France (9 percent), China (16 percent) and the US (2 percent) for the first three quarters of 2015.

Meanwhile, Qatar has already said it is preparing use cruise ships to accommodate football fans during the 2022 World Cup.

Earlier this year, QTA announced plans to contract at least 6,000 cruise ship rooms for the winter tournament, although it did not say where the cruise ships would be berthed during the World Cup.

Note: This article was updated with QTA figures for the first nine months of 2015, and new figures on the number of cruise ships expected in Qatar this season.