Travel & Tourism PAGE | 2 PAGE | 06 HIA second-best Historic sites international airport of Qatar: in the world A must visit SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT SPONSORS MONDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2019 Tourism industry booms in Qatar Qatar is targeting cruise passengers to boost its tourism and Doha Port is aiming to attract half a million cruise passengers by 2022. The country is also poised to see huge leap in business events and sports tourism hosting high-calibre international events such as the ongoing 17th IAAF World Championships and the much anticipated FIFA World Cup 2022. RAYNALD C RIVERA THE PENINSULA Qatar’s tourism sector has witnessed stable growth atar’s tourism sector is under- of 11 percent from January to August 31, 2019. going rapid development with The country’s tourism sector is undergoing rapid milestone achievements in development, with milestone achievements in the sub Qvarious sectors. The country’s sectors of cruise, business events and sports. Preparing tourism industry is a promising market for investors and businesses. It beyond 2022, multiple new businesses are creating has witnessed 11 percent growth during thousands of job opportunities in hospitality, retail, January to August 31 this year compared F&B, and transportation. to the same period in 2018, said Akbar Al Baker, Secretary-General of Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) and Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive, Qatar Airways. Secretary-General of Qatar National Tourism Council “Together with our partners from (QNTC) and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive. both public and private sectors, we have been constantly working on imple- menting policies to develop the tourism ecosystem that helps create new business redefined airport experiences for trav- 2,680 are in Qatar. a luxury hospitality complex which is an industry with positive developments it sustainable growth and job opportunities. ellers from around the world. Looking forward, the company is architectural translation of Qatar’s has seen recently. With a stable growth that has reached Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief now focusing on its next strategic target country seal. Hosting a five-star ultra- Doha Port welcomed a record 11% as of August 2019, Qatar’s tourism Operating Officer at HIA, said: “We are of expanding its portfolio of iconic hotels luxury hotel and branded apartments, number of passengers in the 2018-19 sector has proven to be a promising very proud to be recognised by our loyal to 60 properties by 2026 after surpassing Katara Towers features twin arched season. Doha Port received 144,707 pas- market for investors and businesses,” passengers for the seamless airport expe- its previous target by two years. In Qatar, towers that rise gracefully from the sengers and crew on 44 ships during the said Al Baker. rience offered by HIA. To be named the the company has shaped the hospitality podium level and represent the crossed season. The rise in the number of tourists Qatar was recently ranked on top in World’s Second-Best Airport is a great landscape for over four decades and swords of the country’s seal. With its was a result of mainline cruise vessels the Middle East and number eight glo- achievement and testament to HIA’s high today is part of the national infrastructure incredible design complemented by expressing their interest in Doha and bally in Business Environment by the international standards. While this is a that grows alongside the country’s landscaped gardens and palm trees, the deploying bigger cruise vessels to Doha. World Economic Forum’s Travel & great recognition, we never rest on our development. hospitality complex is set to become the Qatar is targeting cruise passengers Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019. achievements, and constantly evolve to Katara Hospitality is also leading hospitality icon of the 21st Century. Other to boost its tourism and Doha Port is The country’s national carrier, Qatar deliver a true unique experience for our spectacular new projects that will properties coming up soon are Al Messila aiming to attract half a million cruise pas- Airways has inaugurated five new des- passengers.” redefine the design and presentation of Resort & Spa and Salwa Beach Resort, sengers by 2022. tinations linking Hamad International HIA’s unique shopping and dining luxury hospitality in the country. One of which will both add to the list of must- The country is also poised to see huge Airport (HIA) to the world. Qatar Airways’ offering spread across 40,000 square the organisation’s most significant visit for visitors and tourists. leap in business events and sports new routes include Izmir, Turkey, and meters of combined retail, food and bev- projects that is currently underway is Cruise tourism is also a promising tourism hosting high-calibre interna- Rabat, Morocco, which were launched erage options are also continuously Katara Towers in Lusail Marina District, sub-sector of the country’s tourism tional events such as the ongoing 17th in May; with Davao, the Philippines, expanding. IAAF World Championships and the Malta and Lisbon, Portugal, joining the The hospitality sector also expanding much anticipated FIFA World Cup 2022. network later in June. with the increasing number of hotels Some 137 events were organised in With the expansion of the route coming up in Qatar. 2018, which included international con- network, HIA looks forward to wel- Katara Hospitality, the country’s ferences, exhibitions and other business coming a rising number of travellers flagship hospitality company, continues related events. aboard Qatar’s state-of-the-art facility to expand its portfolio of iconic hotels to The annual events and festivals such to experience a unique passenger journey invest and acquire in key sought after as Qatar International Food Festival, into the world of the arts, culture and international markets, while also main- Hospitality Qatar, Shop Qatar, and hospitality. taining is strong position as market Summer in Qatar has seen successes and HIA also reported serving a total of leaders in the hospitality industry in expansion in their recent editions 9.38 million passengers in the second Qatar. It has gone a long way from 362 attracting many visitors. quarter of 2019, making it the busiest keys in 1970 to 7,896 in 2019. With QNTC’s visionary leadership, second quarter the airport has seen. The rapid development Katara Hos- clear roadmap and ambitious projects HIA has achieved second place in the pitality is witnessing is also reflected along with partnership with various prestigious 2019 Travel + Leisure World’s in the number of jobs its provides. Since stakeholders, the country’s tourism Best Awards. First receiving this award 2011 Katara Hospitality witnessed 400 industry is expected to further expand, in 2017, HIA continues to position itself percent increase in employees. It has create more jobs and further contribute as a leading global aviation hub, with a total of 6,499 employees, of which to the country’s economy. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dr. Khalid Mubarak Al-Shafi ACTING MANAGING EDITOR SUPPLEMENT COORDINATOR DESIGN Mohammed Salim Mohamed Ahmed Eltigani Idris Abraham Augusthy 2 HIA recognised as second-best international airport in the world amad International self-check-in and bag drop kiosks which During this fruitful quarter, the Airport (HIA) has are biometric enabled. This also makes national carrier of the State of Qatar, achieved second place the check-in process faster, which vastly Qatar Airways has inaugurated 5 new in the prestigious 2019 improves customer experience and destinations. Linking HIA to the world, Travel + Leisure allows more passengers to be managed Qatar Airways’ new routes include Izmir, World’s Best Awards. without physical expansion of the Turkey, and Rabat, Morocco, which were HFirst receiving this award in 2017, HIA check-in facilities. launched in May; with Davao, the Phil- continues to position itself as a leading Within the security criterion, HIA ippines, Malta and Lisbon, Portugal, global aviation hub, with redefined has increased its security capacity for joining the network later in June. airport experiences for travellers from screening in its transfer areas and With the expansion of the route around the world. reduced queuing time, as part of its com- network, HIA looks forward to wel- The Travel + Leisure World’s Best mitment to providing a seamless transfer coming a rising number of travellers Awards evaluate airports based upon experience for passengers and main- aboard Qatar’s state-of-the-art facility the direct feedback of their readers who taining high standards of security. The to experience a unique passenger vote for their favourite airport across airport has also further improved cus- journey into the world of the arts, culture the globe, upon criteria such as access, tomer service in the transfer security and hospitality. check-in, security, restaurants, areas, allowing at least 95 per cent of its In May 2019, HIA marked its 5th shopping, and design. transfer passengers to queue for under year of operations and has celebrated Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief five minutes, which is an industry- their success through a series of pas- Operating Officer at HIA, said: “We are leading achievement airport experience. The airport also handled 18,997 aircraft senger, employee and stakeholder very proud to be recognised by our loyal HIA’s unique shopping and dining HIA also reported serving a total of movements in April; 18,487 movements appreciation events, highlighting the passengers for the seamless airport offering spread across 40,000 square 9.38 million passengers in the second in May; and 18,968 movements in June, role that partners play in its fast-paced experience offered by HIA. To be named meters of combined retail, food and bev- quarter of 2019, making it the busiest which includes the total number of air- success. the World’s Second-Best Airport is a erage options are also continuously second quarter the airport has seen.