After months of disruption throughout regional airspace, Qatar’s tourism trade has introduced that the Gulf state is open for enterprise once more.
In an interview with Euronews, Go to Qatar CEO Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi mentioned that though the nation confronted probably the most troublesome intervals in current historical past, it labored carefully with embassies, airways and tourism companions to help stranded vacationers and restore confidence within the vacation spot, which can welcome 5 million vacationers in 2025.
In the course of the early phases of the regional battle, greater than 12,000 worldwide guests had been within the nation, together with 8,000 transit vacationers, all of whom required repatriation.
Roughly 5,000 cruise passengers and crew had been additionally affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on the Doha cruise port. Celestial Cruises’ Celestial Journey and TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 5 each safely departed the Arabian Gulf in mid-April.
“We’ve got been by means of troublesome occasions,” Almawawi informed Euronews. “To be trustworthy, this era has been essentially the most troublesome interval now we have ever skilled. However as I consistently remind myself, now we have come by means of the COVID-19 interval, which has been a really troublesome interval, stronger and extra resilient than earlier than.”
Repatriation efforts, inns and visas
A 24-hour hotline has been arrange, together with WhatsApp updates and social media alerts, as authorities coordinate repatriation efforts by means of Doha’s Hamad Worldwide Airport.
In the meantime, 194 inns participated to accommodate 12,000 guests. The nation’s tourism regulator, Qatar Tourism Authority, coated resort lodging and meals for 15 days as a part of a broader initiative.
The federal government issued roughly 8,000 emergency visas to transit guests stranded within the nation, in addition to facilitating flexibility for visa extensions and overstays within the rapid aftermath of a battle.
“We need to be certain that our friends are all the time friends in our residence, so within the meantime now we have introduced visa extensions and resort stays with free meals for all vacationers and friends,” Almawawi mentioned.
Qatar is presently pursuing a tourism restoration marketing campaign centered on summer time festivals, seashore actions and household leisure, earlier than shifting its focus to worldwide vacationers later this 12 months.
Al Malawi mentioned the nation hopes the mix of luxurious tourism, cultural experiences and main worldwide occasions will assist enhance momentum for the busy winter season.
“Qatar is returning to normalcy and you may all the time relaxation assured that Qatar will all the time be protected,” he mentioned. “Qatar has all the time been identified for its distinctive merchandise that mix tradition, custom and modernity.
“Not solely are you able to take pleasure in diving with whale sharks, you’ll be able to go on a safari and revel in wonderful eating, buying experiences, resort experiences, beachfront and extra all in the identical day. We all the time say Qatar is residence to our friends from everywhere in the world.”
After lately asserting the ‘Hala Summer season’ marketing campaign and pageant line-up, Go to Qatar is now trying to strengthen its place as one of many area’s main vacationer locations.
Regardless of the challenges, Qatar’s tourism sector is shifting forward with the implementation of latest digital options to reinforce campaigns, occasions and customer experiences, and construct momentum for the remainder of the 12 months and past.
Seasonal campaigns and occasions
Go to Qatar’s annual Hala Summer season marketing campaign, launched this month, will run till September. The lineup consists of inns and resorts providing packages and seasonal menus, in addition to a sequence of live shows from worldwide performers like John Legend. The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter is scheduled to take to the stage at Doha’s Qatar Nationwide Conference Middle on September 10.
Whereas initiatives similar to Youngsters Go Free intention to encourage household journey inside the nation, the place youngsters below the age of 12 of residents and residents can take pleasure in free lodging and meals, Hala Summer season additionally targets leisure vacationers looking for luxurious lodging, resorts, buying and seashore choices.
As temperatures drop, Qatar’s calendar for the ultimate months of 2026 consists of performances by legendary composer Hans Zimmer and Colombian star Shakira, the adrenaline-pumping Qatar Airways Grand Prix and the Doha Jewelery and Watches Exhibition.
Qatar Airways expands its community
As Qatar’s tourism group seems forward to the top of 2026 and past, Qatar Airways continues to restructure its world schedule for flights to and from Hamad Worldwide.
Qatar’s flag provider has introduced that it’s going to increase its worldwide community to greater than 160 locations from June 16, as overseas airways return to Doha airspace.
The growth drive is predicted to proceed till July, with the airline planning to constitution its first flights to Caracas and Bogotá. This would be the first time a Gulf airline will enter the Venezuelan market and the primary direct flight between the 2 capitals of the Center East and South America.
In Europe, Qatar Airways may also resume flights to Finland’s capital Helsinki with 4 weekly flights from July fifteenth, rising to seven weekly flights from August 1st.
