Qatar- 'Oil price fall won't hit business tourism'

11/17/2015 8:12:33 AM

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Raynald C Rivera

DOHA: Plummeting oil prices will not have much impact on the country’s business tourism sector says a Qatar tourism Authority (QTA) official.

“Qatar has now a clear strategy that business tourism is wide sector so it will not affect us much” said Director of Exhibitions Hamad Al Abdan in response to a question by The Peninsula on the sidelines of a press conference to announce QTA’s launch of Qatar Business Events.

QTA is set to unveil the first sub-brand of Qatar Destination Brand at the opening of IBTM World in Barcelona today as part of its aggressive campaign to promote the country’s tourism industry around the world.

The government puts a lot of impetus on tourism making it a priority sector in the nation’s efforts to diversify its economy in pursuit of Qatar National Vision 2030.

“Business tourism is a vast industry. We can host a wide variety of conferences and exhibitions” said Al Abdan.

Qatar has witnessed a substantial increase in activity in the business meetings and exhibitions sector averaging 150 events a year.

Between 2013 and 2015 growth in the number of exhibitions averaged 35

percent. “Qatar’s business tourism sector is well positioned and growing. We expect five percent growth next year. I think it (drop in oil prices) will not affect us much” he added.

The sector is projected to grow further by five percent next year with 58 shows on the calendar covering a myriad of fields including jewellery and watches education and technology manufacturing food and coffee.

The Qatar Business Events brand is the first sub-brand that QTA is launching with more in the pipeline.

“The launch is our way to tell the exhibitors and stakeholders that we are here. Qatar is representing a new era of bringing business tourism to the forefront” said Al Abdan.

Al Abdan also stressed that the country has a thriving hospitality sector with hotels maintaining a steady occupancy rate of 71 percent. With the opening of 20 new hotels this year the total number of hotels in the country will rise to 87.

As of October 31 Qatar has achieved a 5 percent year-on-year increase in the number of visitor arrivals and is on track to reach the milestone of a record three million visitors before the end of the year.

The Peninsula

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