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The Qatar Tourism Authority is set to announce a raft of new hotel and
infrastructure projects costing more than $2.5 billion at the Arabian Travel Market
2004 in
Dubai.
This latest expansion in the country’s tourism industry comes on the back of the
announcement that Qatar is building a new $ 5 billion airport at Doha which
should be completed by 2015.
The authority’s International PR Manager, Bassem Al Terkawi, said: “Our main
focus is to build our travel and tourism infrastructure. Last year our hotels had
occupancy rates of between 80 per cent and 85 per cent so we need to open more
hotels and upgrade existing hotels to accommodate demand.
“Our aim is to promote Qatar as a leading leisure, business, sport and education
tourism destination in the Middle East.”
Qatar has almost doubled the space it is taking at ATM, up from 120 square metres
last year to 200 square metres, and is hosting more than 13 hotel and tour
operators.
The national carrier, Qatar Airways, also has a major presence at the show, which
runs from May 4 – 7 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, with a 110 square metre
pavilion of its own. |
