'Holiday Homes' initiative gets enthusiastic response

Holiday Homes, an initiative of Qatar Tourism, is getting enthusiastic response from the residents as more and more people are keen to rent out their properties.

The project provides free of charge licence to individuals to rent out their properties to travellers from all over the world. Several people have got the licence within a very short time and they say that the entire process is very smooth and easy. Mohamed al-Ansari, director of Tourism Licensing, Qatar Tourism said that Qatar offers visitors authentic experiences rooted in service excellence. “With an award-winning hospitality sector, Qatar Tourism added a new offering to the market. The Holiday Homes initiative allows visitors to rent accommodation from local property owners, enabling them to more fully experience the destination,” al-Ansari told Gulf Times. According to al-Ansari, to take part in the initiative, property owners and tenants must apply for a Holiday Homes licence through Qatar Tourism’s corporate website under the e-services section.

 

He explained: “The properties are certified by Qatar Tourism, which ensures quality standards and safety requirements are met. Once the licence is awarded, homeowners can list their property on popular international websites such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Holidayhomes.com and Vrbo.” “The initiative aims at boosting the visitors’ experience through new accommodation options tailored to those looking for a true authentic experience. At the same time, it provides property owners with the opportunity to utilise unused residential spaces and facilities. As Qatar prepares to welcome the world for FIFA World Cup 2022, we are committed to providing visitors with safe, authentic experiences, that showcase the diversity of our offerings and the warmth of our people,” continued the official. Nishad Azeem, an Indian national, who has received the license to rent out his property said that he received the licence within10 days.“I came to know about the project from Qatar Tourism. It took around 10 days to get the licence. The application was made online and the process was easy and smooth. I have got licence to rent my one bedroom townhouse. Property owners are able to host their properties legally and get endorsement from Qatar Tourism authorities,” Azeem said.“We have registered with Airbnb and booking.com and we look forward to Qatar Tourism website for hosting our property. I will continue to offer the facility even after the World Cup and it is a good project that can boost the real estate business in Qatar,” he remarked.Al- Ansari highlighted that from our award-winning national carrier and airport to our lauded hospitality sector, state-of-the-art metro system, and a wide range of attractions, Qatar offers service excellence along each stage of the visitor journey. “This is complemented by Qatar Tourism’s digital assets, such as the Visit Qatar website and mobile application which features an up-to-date events calendar along with showcasing tourism offerings and 360-degree views of iconic sites around the country. These platforms are already available in multiple languages such as English, Arabic, German, French etc with Russian, Turkish, China to be added soon. The mobile app facilitates exploration of the destination and its offerings, thereby boosting the visitors experience,” he added.