Literature Commission inaugurates Saudi Pavilion at Muscat Book Fair    Saudi Minister of Culture holds talks with his Costa Rican counterpart in Jeddah    Saudi Arabia cracks down on fraudulent Hajj campaigns, urges pilgrims to use official channels    Nammos Amala Resort to open soon with Saudi-Greek designs    Saudi Arabia completes 674 Vision 2030 initiatives, achieves 93% of KPIs as ninth-year milestone marked    MHRSD: 80% of recruitment offices are non-compliant with regulations    GACA chief chairs 16th meeting of the Steering Committee on aviation's strategy    Alkhorayef praises advancements in Al-Kharj food industries sector    At least 50 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza    Teenage girl killed in French school stabbing attack    Trump claims meeting with China after Beijing denies any trade negotiations    Police fatally shoot man at Toronto's international airport    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Jennifer Lopez dazzles in Jeddah with a Formula 1 performance    Saudi Arabia open to expanded 64-team World Cup in 2034, says sports minister    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Super Max Verstappen scorches to pole with record lap in Jeddah    Film Commission launches 'Cinema' initiative to enhance content    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Qatar launches ‘Tourism Sector Strategy 2030'
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 25 - 02 - 2014

DOHA – Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, Chairman of the Qatar Tourism Authority ( QTA ), officially unveiled the ‘Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030' on Monday during a launch ceremony at the cultural village Katara in Doha. Drawing inspiration from the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2011-2016, the Strategy sets out an ambitious roadmap for the State's tourism sector. The launch event was attended by UN World Tourism Organization Secretary General, Ministers, other government officials, industry stakeholders, and media.
The National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030 envisions positioning Qatar as ‘a world class hub with deep cultural roots', further placing the country on the world tourism map and allowing people from around the world to recognize and appreciate what it has to offer via its unique culture and heritage.
The Strategy was developed through a nationwide consultative process led by QTA and involving public and private sector organizations, civil society, key industry stakeholders, and opinion leaders. “Tourism is a vital pillar in Qatar's development efforts and a key driver of socioeconomic growth in the country” said Al Mohannadi. “The Strategy strives to fully capitalize on Qatar's tourism potential and represents the aspirations of the Qatari people for the future of their country. It will help reinforce Qatar's regional and international standing as a premium destination offering authentic experiences, business facilitation, and family-focused recreation, all while expanding and promoting the country's sports, health and wellness, nature, and educational tourism offering as well”, he added.
The strategy is set to expand the economy, grow the number of SMEs, and encourage entrepreneurship and a greater role for the private sector in the economy. By 2030, the Strategy is set to increase tourism's total contribution to the national GDP, enhance the total tourist spend in Qatar to nearly $10.7 billion dollars, and achieve a greater balance in the breakdown of tourists to Qatar by market of origin and purpose of visit. More than 60 new strategic tourism development initiatives are in the pipeline, with the first of them having already been launched in January 2014.
Hassan Al Ibrahim, QTA Director of Strategy, said “our aim is to have the tourism industry contribute a total of 5.1 percent to GDP by 2030, up from 2.6 percent today. $40 to 45 billion of investments by the government and the private sector will make this vision a reality.”
In 2012, 1.2 million visitors made their way to Qatar, mainly from KSA and the other GCC countries. “Our target is to attract 7 million visitors to Qatar from all over the world by 2030,” said Al Ibrahim. Towards achieving this goal, QTA has already set up satellite offices in London and Paris, with eight more international offices set to open in the near future in key outbound markets.
The National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030 builds on the current growth in tourism in Qatar and the development of first-rate infrastructure that has created an environment highly conducive to tourism through the exponential increase in the number of quality hotels and the construction of an advanced transportation network. The new Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) is scheduled to open in 2014 and will be a game-changer for the MICE sector. Also opening in 2014 is Hamad International Airport, which is destined to become an important hub for transit passengers.
“Qatar has built a strong foundation for the tourism sector by developing a plethora of cultural offerings, sporting events, MICE facilities and leisure options,” said His Excellency the Chairman. “Now the time has come to build upon our past successes and bring our bold plans to fruition. The end result of the National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030 will be a thriving tourism sector that will be ready to handle the demands of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and far beyond. It will take a collaborative effort from all of Qatar working toward the success of our goals - the legacy of this Strategy will be better infrastructure and higher quality of leisure and entertainment for us all. Most of all, every Qatari will be proud of Qatar's growing international profile as an economic and cultural force.”
As part of its mission to plan, regulate, develop and promote sustainable tourism in Qatar, QTA will closely monitor and ensure the timely and successful implementation of the National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030, with the Strategy's programs and projects to fall under the mandate of the respective government entities, in partnership with the private sector. — SG


Clic here to read the story from its source.