QATAR | Page 3 SPORT | Page 1 Murray lift s second INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2, 3, 24 COMMENT 22, 23 Smartphones see Wimbledon REGION 3 BUSINESS 1 – 6, 10 – 12 18,038.00 9,964.26 45.41 ARAB WORLD 4 – 6 CLASSIFIED 7 – 9 surge in sales title +220.00 -15.85 +0.27 INTERNATIONAL 7 – 21 SPORTS 1 – 12 +1.23% -0.16% +0.60% during Eid holidays Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978 MONDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10146 July 11, 2016 Shawwal 6, 1437 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Eid programmes conclude Tourist In brief PALESTINE | Occupation arrivals ‘to Israel ‘strengthens’ its settlements Israel’s government yesterday approved nearly $13mn in financing for the West Bank settlements of Kiryat Arba and Hebron, off icials cross 3mn said. The decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing cabinet will see some 50mn shekels ($12.8mn) allocated to “strengthen” the communities. Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are considered illegal this year’ under international law and major stumbling blocks to peace. Tourism has been identified Qatar Tourism Authority to help The United States, the European as one of the key areas of drive a cohesive, national campaign Union and many others in the Eid al-Fitr celebrations held at malls under Qatar Tourism Authority’s “Capture Joy” initiative concluded yesterday after diversification for the Qatari to boost infrastructure, market- international community have treating the country’s inhabitants, as well as visitors, to five days of fun-filled entertainment shows and activities. One of the economy ing, and accessibility, in order to in- called for a halt to settlement highlights of the family entertainment programmes at malls was Iftah Ya Simsim (Arabic version of Sesame Street), which crease absolute tourist numbers, BMI building. Page 5 was staged at Hyatt Plaza. Up next is the 2016 Qatar Summer Festival, which will be held from August 1 to 31. Page 24 By Pratap John said. Chief Business Reporter Underlining the Qatari authori- ties’ commitment to boosting tour- ARAB WORLD | Militancy ism flows over the long term, 2014 IS territory ational initiatives to enhance saw the launch of the Qatar National shrinks 12 % tourism flows into Qatar are Tourism Strategy 2030. Nshowing positive results with As part of the strategy, Qatar wants The Islamic State (IS) group lost Portugal win Euro 2016 inbound arrivals expected to reach to boost the number of international, 12 % of the territory it holds in 3.1mn this year, a 7.2% leap from 2015, non-regional tourists travelling to Iraq and Syria in the first half of a new report has shown. the country and promote sustainable 2016, according to an analysis by Growth will remain strong until tourism, as well as growing business British think-tank IHS. The analysis 2020, when inbound arrivals are ex- and medical travel. published yesterday says the on Eder’s extra-time goal pected reach 4mn, BMI Research has “Growth over the next five years militant group, which proclaimed said in a report. is expected to be strong, as ties with its self-styled “caliphate” in the two DPA, AFP Qatar’s inbound tourism total is ex- regional neighbours increase and countries in 2014, is continuing Paris pected to rise by 5.4% over 2016, the plans to become a tourist and travel to lose ground after a string of Fitch Group company said. As well as hub continue to advance,” the report setbacks last year. Page 4 increasing the ability and demand for noted. ortugal overcame an injury of tourism into the country, there has Tourism has been identified as one superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to also been work done to make it easier of the key areas of diversification for BRITAIN | Inquiry Pcapture their fi rst major football to enter and visitors from some 33 the Qatari economy, and the tour- Prescott calls Iraq title when they beat hosts France 1-0 countries are now eligible for a tour- ist industry is beginning to catch up yesterday from an extra-time winner ist visa upon arrival. with the more developed industries invasion illegal from substitute Eder. The government has made moves of its neighbours. Britain broke international law Eder, who plays at French club Lille, to increase travel from the Asia Pacif- BMI also notes the priority given to when it invaded Iraq in 2003, its beat Hugo Lloris with a low shot into ic market by decreasing bureaucracy, promoting tourism by the local au- deputy prime minister at the time, the bottom left corner in the 109th such as in Taiwan where travellers can thorities and believes t`hat this, in John Prescott, said yesterday in minute. now apply for visas online. tandem with Qatar’s hosting of the the wake of a critical report on the The goal came shortly after Raphael Work within the Gulf Co-operation FIFA World Cup in 2022, is likely to decision to go to war. A seven-year Guerreiro had hit the crossbar with a Council (GCC) has also led to a Gulf- see a rise in inbound tourism over our inquiry concluded last Wednesday free-kick, but Portugal were lucky as wide visa that allows for a Schen- forecast period to 2020. that former British prime minister France substitute Andre-Pierre Gig- gen style travel within participating Qatar is currently a business des- Tony Blair’s justification, planning nac was denied a winner by the left countries, making travel within the tination, but BMI said there are and handling of the Iraq War post in stoppage time before the extra Portugal’s forward Eder tumbling over France’s midfielder Blaise Matuidi during region much easier and more conven- “strides being made” to strengthen involved a catalogue of failures, but period. the Euro 2016 final football match at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of ient. the cultural and leisure aspects of the did not rule whether the war was Ronaldo, meanwhile, hurt his left Paris, yesterday. Europe and America will remain the industry. legal. Page 12 knee in a collision with Dimitri Payet, dominant source markets for Qatar in The hosting of international sport- and after trying to play eventually France in 11 games and since a 1975 The 31-year-old Real Madrid strik- general. Diversifying the country’s ing events will help put the country had to leave in the 24th minute on a friendly, and only their sixth overall er played in the Portugal side that lost source markets is seen as essential for in the world’s eye as a tourist desti- SOUTH SUDAN | Security stretcher and in tears. in 25 meetings between Cristiano Ro- the 2004 European Championship fi - Qatari tourism’s sustainability. nation which will also lead to a di- Heavy fi ghting Portugal fulfi lled their dream of naldo suff ered new heartbreak in the nal 1-0 to Greece. The recent fall in oil price may af- versification in the hotel market as a fi rst major title at last after they fi nal, stretchered off in tears. Ronaldo crying in defeat has re- fect the amount of inter-regional companies look beyond the high-end erupts in Juba had lost the 2004 decider at home Payet fl oored Ronaldo with a heavy mained one of the enduring images of travel in the future, and as such the hotel market in anticipation of a wid- Heavy fighting erupted in South against outsiders Greece, with a then challenge in the eighth minute. The that tournament. country must appeal to a wider range er source market. Sudan’s capital, Juba, yesterday 19-year-old Ronaldo. Portuguese superstar rolled on the He had said before the Paris fi nal of markets (whilst s till attracting re- Additionally, it said the govern- as former rebels and government France lost a match at home for the turf in agony, was led off for treat- that he wanted to be “crying for joy” gional travel). ment has continued to improve air soldiers exchanged fire two days fi rst time since a 2-0 defeat against ment and came back. After hobbling this time. Growth in the longer term will be links into the country to encourage after gun battles left at least 150 Czechoslovakia in the match for third for several minutes, Ronaldo went off Ronaldo was replaced by Ricardo aided by further international events travel. fighters dead. Regional airline place in 1960 - going unbeaten in 18 again to have his left leg bandaged. Quaresma and disappeared for treat- providing an influx of tourists, but The Qatari government is also Kenya Airways suspended flights to games, with 17 wins, en route to ti- After trying to accelerate, Ronaldo ment. beyond this there are significant trying to boost entrepreneurship Juba, citing the “uncertain security tles at Euro 1984 and the 1998 World sat down in tears in the 24th minute He emerged again when referee plans in place in order to strengthen within tourism in order to encourage situation”, while the US embassy Cup, plus the run into yesterday’s fi - and signalled he could not carry on. Mark Clattenburg blew the whistle for all aspects of the industry. private sectors to innovate to meet in Juba warned its citizens to stay nal. He took off the captain’s armband 90 minutes to encourage his exhaust- The National Tourism Strategy demand in the market, BMI said. indoors. Page 6 It was Portugal’s fi rst win against and was carried off on a stretcher. ed teammates for extra time.