Customary travel wisdom says spending a few hours in a city’s airport doesn’t “count” as experiencing the place itself. That’s because American airports today are often viewed as transitory hubs removed from space and time—like a mall or suburban highway strip—visit one and you could be anywhere in the US.
Chairman of Qatar Tourism sheds light on the future trajectory of tourism in the Gulf Region
24.05.2024 - 07:55 / breakingtravelnews.com / Sébastien Bazin / Ahmed Al-Khateeb / Ali Al-Kharji
The Qatar Economic Forum commenced its 4th edition on May 14 under the theme ‘A World Remade: Navigating the Year of Uncertainty’. During the session titled ‘From the Gulf to the World: The Future of Tourism’, His Excellency Mr. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism, discussed the future of tourism in the Gulf region. The panel speakers included H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Mr. Sébastien Bazin, Group Chairman & CEO of Accor.
His Excellency Mr. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji emphasized the pivotal role of the FIFA World Cup 2022TM in supporting the region’s tourism industry growth. He noted that the tournament contributed significantly to portraying Arabian culture and Gulf heritage to the world, thereby attracting visitors and stimulating interest in the Gulf region’s unique culture. This resulted in notable growth in tourism investments, visitor numbers, and the development of new tourist destinations.
Furthermore, His Excellency highlighted that Qatar attracted over 4 million visitors in 2023, marking a 58.4% growth compared to 2022. By the first four months of 2024, visitor numbers exceeded 2 million. He underscored the role of tourism in job creation and emphasized the need for continuous infrastructure development to support the rapid growth of sectors such as transportation, agriculture, and construction, which contribute to creating both direct and indirect job opportunities.
Addressing the resilience of the tourism sector, His Excellency pointed out its ability to adapt to economic and geopolitical conditions and recover rapidly from crises. Despite challenges, global tourism has rebounded significantly from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, with travel levels surpassing 88% of pre-pandemic levels worldwide and exceeding pre-pandemic levels in the Middle East.
Regarding Gulf tourism integration, the Chairman of Qatar Tourism emphasized unified efforts and cooperation between Gulf countries, particularly highlighting the development of the unified GCC Tourist Visa and the “Double Discovery” campaign launched jointly by Qatar and Saudi Arabia to enhance visitors’ experiences.
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In discussing the link between tourism and sustainability, His Excellency Saad bin Ali Al Kharji elaborated on economic and environmental sustainability. He emphasized Qatar’s commitment to sustainable tourism practices, including wildlife and environmental preservation initiatives such as the conservation of the Whale Shark and Oryx.
Visit Qatar is the Tourism Sponsor for the fourth edition of the Qatar Economic Forum, powered by Bloomberg. This year’s forum, with over 2,300 participants, including 1200 government leaders, companies, and decision-makers
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