Qatar-Oman tourism relations get a fillip with QTA visit

A delegation of senior representatives from Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) made a three-day visit to Oman earlier this week in a bid to boost the country’s tourism relations with its neighbouring GCC country.

QTA officials, who met with their counterparts in the Sultanate, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that forms part of Qatar’s efforts to diversify its visitor source markets in the region.The delegation was led by QTA chief tourism development officer Hassan al-Ibrahim and included planning quality director Nasser al-Maslamani, shared services director Omar al-Jaber and exhibitions director Ahmed al-Obaidly, among others. In a statement, al-Ibrahim said “the strategy’s main pillar is diversification of products, services and source markets to guarantee the tourism sector’s sustainability and its continued growth in spite of any changes in the world around us”.

Hassan al-Ibrahim meets an official in Oman.

During their stay, the delegates met with Maitha bint Saif al-Mahrouqi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Tourism of Oman, and visited Oman Tourism Development Company, Oman Convention Bureau as well as the Oman Exhibition and Convention Centre. The visit wrapped up with a roadshow, during which QTA’s private sector partners showcased the country’s latest offerings to Omani tour operators.The Omani officials shed light on the Omani Tourism Strategy 2040 and its components that promote the Sultanate’s authentic Omani identity and cultural aspects. Similarly, the visit allowed the QTA delegation to share insights regarding its work towards launching the 'Next Chapter of the Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030', which charts a pathway for developing a thriving hospitality and tourism sector in Qatar. “Qatar and Oman enjoy a long history of collaboration, and the activation of the MoU is testament to our ongoing commitment to energising tourism in both our countries as we each embark on our journeys to 2030 and 2040, respectively,” al-Ibrahim added.In 2015, QTA signed an MoU with the Omani Ministry of Tourism, enabling the two countries to establish a framework for more joint projects that have the potential to create a tangible impact on tourism in both countries. Through the agreement, Oman and Qatar have been able to build on existing successful collaborations such as the joint Oman-Qatar tourist visa and their participation in the Cruise Arabia Alliance.