Qatar
The Road to 2022: A look at how far Qatar’s tourism sector has come
December 19, 2022 | 11:32 PM
From its humble, culturally rich origins as a pearling nation, today, Qatar is firmly set on the world tourism map and is set to become the region’s fastest-growing tourism destination by 2030.Although still firmly rooted in its unique heritage and culture, rapid economic growth in Qatar over the last few decades has seen a flurry of infrastructure spring from the surrounding desert, leading to the suite of world-class hotels and soaring skyscrapers that the country is now globally renowned for.Preparations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 tournament ushered in a particularly impressive programme of new hotels, public beaches and malls in recent years, making its leisure and hospitality landscape virtually unrecognisable from the handful of original hotels and malls to open a few decades earlier. In celebration of the country’s journey from its first mall to hosting the world’s largest sports tournament, Qatar Tourism takes a nostalgic look at some of the country’s first leisure destinations, including hotels, museums and parks, and how these have evolved to the present day.Haya al-Noaimi, head of the Promotions Sector at Qatar Tourism, said: "Over the last few decades, Qatar has been on an incredible journey. From the small number of original 5-star hotels in the 1970s and 1980s, today there are endless options that span the length and breadth of the country. World-class assets, a safe environment and a host of family-friendly activities make Qatar a perfect choice for tourists of all preferences, and perfectly poised to meet its goal of welcoming 6mn visitors a year by 2030.”
- There’s plenty to celebrate this year in Qatar. However, the country’s well-defined and research-based tourism strategy will see Qatar’s rich pipeline of leisure and hospitality offerings expand to 2030 and beyond.
December 19, 2022 | 11:32 PM