* Discover Qatar 'appreciates patience of customers during these unprecedented times'
* Over 50,000 refunds processed for hotel quarantine packages
* Arabic version of Discover Qatar website expected to be completed by end of March
Discover Qatar has to date assisted more than 330,000 people to complete their quarantine successfully in 65 hotels, it has been announced.
It has also processed over 50,000 refunds for hotel quarantine packages, according to a press statement issued by Qatar Airways on Wednesday.
More than 240 employees are "dedicated to welcoming those returning to Qatar as it continues to strongly support the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and Ministry of Interior to protect the local community from Covid-19", the statement notes.
This effective and efficient model of quarantine in hotels and at home is recognised by many other countries as a system to replicate in helping to combat rising Covid-19 numbers, without the need for a border closure.
The weekly admission of people who have returned to Qatar far exceeds the numbers re-entering other countries due to their existing caps set in place in order to mitigate the risk of the virus. Discover Qatar’s hotel quarantine package prices remain competitive, costing much less than quarantine packages in other countries, and continues to offer over 65 hotels to choose from according to one’s budget constraints, the statement adds.
Building a quarantine programme in a very short time-frame has created challenges, but with over 2.6mn room nights booked, 6.9mn meals served and 3mn km of transfers provided, this has been an "exceptionally complex operation".
An Arabic version of the Discover Qatar website is expected to be completed by the end of March, and the Discover Qatar call centre has 30 dedicated Arabic speakers providing 24/7 support. Discover Qatar has also successfully negotiated the removal of the security deposit previously required for Mekaines bookings, which was implemented for new bookings from February 18.
Qatar Airways Group chief executive HE Akbar al-Baker said, “We are aware of the increased demand for quarantine rooms as travel restrictions evolve with no home quarantine permitted from red countries. Our teams are working round the clock to ensure the continued safety of Qatar and its residents. Given the volume of numbers, we greatly appreciate the patience of our customers as refunds are being processed as quickly as possible.
"It is critical that we understand that all quarantine processes are set in place for the benefit of Qatar and the wider community in Qatar, especially to protect the vulnerable and the elderly.”
According to Qatar’s travel and return policy, people coming from the green list countries are required to undergo home quarantine while those arriving from countries not mentioned in the green list must undergo hotel quarantine. Quarantine packages have to be purchased from the Discover Qatar website and the list of countries is updated periodically and is available on the MoPH website.
The MoPH had also recently announced that fully vaccinated citizens and residents of Qatar are now exempt from quarantine requirements after travel abroad.
Qatar Airways currently operates more than 900 weekly flights to over 130 destinations across the globe. Many cities will be served with a strong schedule with daily or more frequencies.
Qatar Airways has become the first global airline in the world to achieve the 5-Star Covid-19 Airline Safety Rating by international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. This follows Hamad International Airport (HIA)'s recent success as the first and currently only airport in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded a Skytrax 5-Star Covid-19 Airport Safety Rating.
These recognitions provide assurance to passengers across the world that airline health and safety standards are subject to the highest possible standards of professional, independent scrutiny and assessment, Qatar Airways has stressed.
For full details of all the measures that have been implemented onboard and at HIA, one can visit qatarairways.com/safety.
