Qatar Chamber study calls for more efforts to enhance tourism potential

The Tourism Committee of Qatar Chamber has recently conducted a comprehensive study on the country’s tourism sector to monitor and suggest solutions to challenges facing the industry.Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulla al-Thani, who heads the committee, said in a statement that the study reveals many obstacles facing Qatar’s tourism sector and its expected contribution in the local GDP. He pointed out that the committee coordinated “with all authorities concerned in finding out successful solutions to these obstacles.” Sheikh Hamad said tourism plays a major role in a country’s economy “and all governments are attaching great priority to this sector for its impact on economic growth.”He noted that investing in tourism significantly contributes to developing many sectors that are related to it, as well as requirements such as goods and services. “Despite remarkable growth in tourism sector, its share reached 4.7% of the non-oil GDP. This requires stimulating businessmen to further increase their investments, promoting the state’s touristic potentials abroad, and providing more incentives to the private sector to increase its businesses in this promising sector,” he said.Sheikh Hamad said the study revealed the following obstacles: Shortage of entertainment places; Qatar Airways tickets “are expensive”; outside promotion for Qatar as a touristic destination “is weak”; hotel occupancy “is weak and depends on business tourism and Gulf families”; difficulty in issuance of tourist visas; the civil defence procedures for hotels facilities “are very complicated”; “increase of touristic services prices, which reflects on the tourism activity”; and the sector revenues “are restricted in business tourism, conferences, exhibitions and sport championships.”“It is highly necessary to further review all obstacles and intensify efforts to find effective solutions in light of the Tourism National Strategy 2030, which was launched in 2014. The strategy’s main objective is developing the Qatari tourism and making Qatar an ideal international touristic destination,” the statement said.Sheikh Hamad also underlined the importance of collaboration between “all parties concerned,” and the committee’s commitment to be part of the key tourism sector supporters in Qatar.The study’s suggestions include the following: Promoting tourist spots such as Khor Al-Adaid and the available investment opportunities from the private sector; activating the exhibition industry and streamlining the civil defence procedures in licensing new hotels; organising shopping festivals and hosting cultural and artistic events throughout the year to attract more tourists; coordination with travel agencies to encourage them to activate their offers for tourists; and focusing on therapeutic and sport tourism, as well as facilitating issuance of tourist visas.