Tourism & Culture

Backed by a coordinated government strategy and strong investments in key economic enablers such as infrastructure, Qatar’s tourism industry continues to grow at a steady clip. Since 2010 Qatar has seen arrival numbers rise more than 72% to reach 2.93m in 2015. The sector’s economic contribution hit QR39.5bn ($10.8bn) in 2014, and mid-2015 estimates projected 2015 growth at 6.6%, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. Foreign arrivals rose an average of 11.5% a year in 2010-15 and were up 3.7% year-on year in 2015, falling just shy of 3m visitors, according to Qatar Tourism Authority.

This chapter contains interviews with Hassan Abdulrahman Al Ibrahim, Chief Tourism Development Officer, Qatar Tourism Authority; and Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General Manager, The Cultural Village Foundation-Katara.