Hospitality Industry in Qatar - Report Example

Qatar tourism Qatar, which gained momentum as a transit hub for long haul flights and destinations, is increasingly becoming an authentic tourist destination of the Middle East. Almost two million people visit Qatar every year, and the number of tourists visiting Qatar is up by almost 400% between 2000- 2010 (Almost Two Million Visitors). The Qatar Tourism Authority is promoting Qatar as a sustainable quality tourist destination for the families, particularly Arab families, business tourists, sports tourists, and other wealthy world travelers. The National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030 “identified several areas that Qatar should focus on as part of reinforcing its tourism sector and capitalizing on the many exciting avenues of tourism the country has already begun building or has made considerable strides in” (Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy 2014). Though a small state, Qatar is one of the wealthiest nations in the world thanks to its oil and natural gas reserves. However, the current reserves are finite, and importantly as those reserves are non-renewable energy sources, it could eventually run out causing a severe threat to the economy of the country. This is where tourism could help Qatar on the longer run. So, tourist products are being created in the priority areas in which Qatar has a notable competitive edge, and they include - Culture, Urban, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions), Sports, Sun & Beach, Health & Wellness, Nature & Education (Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy 2014). Qatar is also developed with an aim of being more authentic Middle-Eastern tourist destination in comparison to other destinations like Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Bahrain. Their efforts are paying off as is evident from the fact that Qatar was featured in the 50 best ranked countries in Travel and Tourism Competitive Index of 2013 (The 50 best ranked countries 2014). Qatar’s increased tourism potential is revealed in the figures regarding the growth of the country’s hospitality sector. Around 100 hotels were up for construction and on completion will provide 19,931 rooms to meet the increase in demand. The previous year the total capacity of the hotel rooms itself was just 13,407 rooms (Scott 2013). This trend is only expected to grow in the coming years. Fig1 depict the surge of hospitality industry in Qatar in 2012 as compared to the year 2011. Fig1: Statistics of hospitality industry (Scott 2013) Shopping in Qatar is a tourist delight and is a must for the incoming tourists considering the fact that the country is tax-free. There is a shopping option for every kind of a traveler. Traditional markets like Gold Souq, Souq Al Ahmed, and Souq Al Jabor offer a variety of goods ranging from clothes, carpets, gold, electronics, perfumes, and much more (Markets, Doha 2013). Souq Waqif market is a must visit for every tourist. It is a traditional market that has been restored recently to depict how it looked in the 19th century, and at the same time equipped with the state-of-the-art-air-conditioning thereby giving the best possible blend of tradition and technology. (Markets, Doha 2013). From spices to colorful textiles, pearls to antique jewellery, you can bargain your way through the winding lanes of the market. If the tourist wants a sophisticated shopping experience, there are a plenty of world class malls like the Villagio mall or the Doha City center mall that hosts over two hundred international retail outlets, setting the bench mark for retail shopping in Qatar. Branded apparels, electronics, gold, pearls, local handicrafts, souvenirs, and spices are some of the things that tourists from other countries often buy in Qatar. (Markets, Doha 2013). Fig.2 shows the location of prominent restaurants, hotels, parks, beaches, and other tourist attractions of Qatar. Note how the cluster of tourist products is densely located to attract tourists for a host of different activities. Fig2: (Qatar Map 2014) Another tourist product in Qatar is to take the ‘Dhow’ yacht cruise or walk around Doha Corniche, which runs along the Doha bay and offers a wonderful view of the modern architecture and remarkable green surroundings. Adventure tourism is a tourist product that is seeing an increased demand in recent times. Tourists who like to have a desert experience can opt for desert safaris, camel rides, sand dune rides, and a variety of desert motor sports. Since Qatar is surrounded by water on all sides, there are a number of pristine, beautiful beaches on its coastline like the Fuwairit beach, the Al Ghariya beach, and the Zekreet beach, all offering beach resorts and luxury spas for relaxation (Qatar Tourist information 2014). They are also ideal for lot of water sports like diving, sailing, kayaking, cruises, and surfing. All these adventure sports are tried more by the tourists coming from other parts of the world than the native Arabs. Since Qatar is basically a desert environment, the best time to travel would be from October to April when the climate is relatively cool and ideal for tourist sightseeing and other activities. Though night life might not be as vibrant as in the Western countries, there are several night clubs, bars, and discos in the capital of Qatar, Doha that appeal to the western audience (Qatar Tourist information 2014). Most of the popular nightclubs feature Middle Eastern bands and belly dancers. Though drinking options are limited, they are served at bars and other luxury hotels. These bars are gaining popularity with increasing foreign tourist footfalls. If a tourist wants to experience the culture of Qatar and the religion of Islam, then they can head for places like the Grand Mosque, the Qatar National Museum and Aquarium, the Museum of Islamic Arts, and the Islamic Culture Center(Qatar Tourist information 2014). These places not only showcase the grandiose architecture and masterpieces of Islamic arts dating back to early centuries, they also help us in understanding the historic and intellectual aspects of the culture and essence of Islam. The rich history and deeply rooted culture of the nation is evident in the number of forts, towers, and other architectural gems that are a reminiscent of the ancient civilizations of Qatar. Al Zubara fort, Al Wakra, Al Wajba fort, Barzen towers are some such examples (Qatar Tourist information 2014). Qatar is generally a safe country and so tourists, by and large, experience the friendly and welcoming nature of Arab culture. However, one has to ensure that they respect local traditions and practices for a better travel experience. For instance, men and women are expected to dress modestly in public and there are restrictions on alcohol (Qatar Tourist information 2014). There have been incidents of mild harassment or unwanted attention to women tourists (Qatar Tourist information 2014). Though not threatening, it is always advisable for women travelers to take care while travelling alone especially during night times. To avoid unwanted attention, some women tourists wear ‘Abaya’, the headscarf worn by the Qatari women, which can be purchased locally and used during their stay in Qarat, though this is not a must (Qatar Tourist information 2014). It is also safe to travel by taxis of reputable companies. The current trend of Qatar tourism is that more tourists from GCC (Gulf Cooperation Countries) are visiting it than tourists form other countries. Fig3 shows the statistics of number of people from GCC and others in comparison to the years 2011 & 2012. Fig3: Statistics of inbound tourists from GCC and other parts of the world (Scott 2013) Traditionally, it has always been the wealthy Arab business people who come to Qatar for a high end luxury retreat. However these days, there are more and more people from the around who are coming to the country just for a simple family holiday. As shown in the fig3, 2000 more tourists from outside of the GCC region choose to visit Qatar in 2012 than in 2011(Scott 2013). Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) is also looking at increasing the number in this section by developing ties with Western countries like UK and France. Qatar’s meteoric rise as a tourist destination is evident from the aggressive expansion of Qatar Airways (QA). Since 2010, QA has introduced flights to more than 30 new destinations to meet the increasing demands (Qatar Airways Story 2014). The new destinations of QA cover not just the high end Western countries, but also the rising economies like India, Brazil, and Argentina, indicating their keen eye to exploit the aspiring virgin foreign tourists (Qatar Airways Story 2014). The Qatar Tourism Authority has released a ‘Tourism Sector Strategy 2030’ aimed at attracting 7.4 million annual visitors by 2030 (Kovessy 2014). This comes at the right juncture as Qatar is already getting ready to host the FIFA World Cup 2022. The government has plans to spend billions of dollars in building suitable tourism related infrastructure in achieving this sustainable strategy. “Tourism is a means to enhance the image and identity of a country worldwide,” said QTA chair Issa Bin Mohammed Al-Mohannadi (Kovessy 2014). In order to be successful with the strategy, there are several challenges that the government has to deal with, given the country’s stringent Islamic laws, and the need to balance its Islamic identity with that of hosting tourists from around the world. “The National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030 envisions positioning Qatar as ‘a world class hub with deep cultural roots” (Qatar Tourism Authority unveils 2014). The strategy of trying to be the host nation for various global meets and conferences has also paid rich dividends as Qatar is being identified as a destination to hold international conferences and GB meetings. This would in turn help in succeeding in the brand building endeavor undertaken by the nation in the Tourism front. This push towards tourism will definitely diversify the country’s economy, as it is currently dependent only on its finite energy resources and thereby put Qatar on the global tourist pedestal. References: Kovessy, P., 2014. Qatar aims to attract 7.4 million annual visitors by 2030. Available from: http://dohanews.co/qatar-aims-to-attract-7-4-million-annual-visitors-by- 2030/(accessed on 8 October 2014) Qatar Tourism Authority unveils the Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030., 2014. Available from: http://corporate.qatartourism.gov.qa/en us/mediacenter/news/details.aspx?ID=2057(accessed on 8 October 2014) Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030 Q&A., 2014. Available from: http://corporate.qatartourism.gov.qa/Portals/0/QAENGLISHFINAL.pdf(accessed on 8 October 2014) Qatar tourist information. Available from: http://www.onlineqatar.com/info/tourist- info.aspx(accessed on 8 October 2014) Scott, V., 2013. Qatar’s tourism sector grows 12 percent in 2012, fueled by hotel boom. Available from: http://dohanews.co/qatars-tourism-sector-grows-12-percent-in- 2012-fueled(accessed on 8 October 2014) The 50 best ranked countries in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index in 2013., 2014. Available from:http://www.statista.com/statistics/186639/best-ranked- countries-in-the-travel-and-tourism-competetiveness-index/(accessed on 8 October 2014) The Qatar Airways Story., 2014. Available from: http://www.qatarairways.com/iwov- resources/temp-docs/press-kit/The%20Story%20of%20Qatar%20Airways%20- %20English.pdf(accessed on 8 October 2014) Markets, Doha., 2013. Available from: http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Middle_East /Qatar/Baladiyat_ad_Dawhah/Doha-1806039/Things_To_Do-Doha-Markets-BR- 1.html(accessed on 8 October 2014) Read More