Tourism & Culture

As a strategic priority for national development, the tourism sector is showing promise, and visitor numbers, particularly from the GCC, are on the rise. Business travellers are the mainstay of the sector, though Qatar’s growing status as a sports and shopping destination is also enhancing long-term potential, while a growing regional cruise market and a new port in Doha are raising interest and opportunities in expanding Qatar’s profile as a cruise destination. A new national museum is set to showcase the state’s vision of Qatar’s national identity, an aim that has underpinned cultivation of the country’s tourism and cultural sector. This chapter contains interviews with Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, Chairman, Qatar Tourism Authority; Hamad Abdulla Al Mulla, CEO, Katara Hospitality; and Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General Manager, Katara Cultural Village Foundation.