HE the Minister of Transport Jassim bin Saif al-Sulaiti, Gulf Helicopters CEO Mohamed Ibrahim al-Mohannadi and QTA chairman Issa bin Mohamed al-Mohannadi joined helicopter pilots and crew at the Doha Heliport for a photo opportunity yesterday
Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter
The launching of Qatar Tourism Authority’s (QTA) “Samana (Our Skies)” project will open new tourism opportunities for the country, HE the Minister of Transport Jassim bin Saif al-Sulaiti has said.
“Flying in helicopters has become an experience that tourists favour,” he pointed out during the opening ceremony of QTA’s new initiative on Monday at the headquarters of Gulf Helicopters.
The event was attended by Civil Aviation Authority chairman Abdulaziz bin Mohamed al-Noaimi, Djibouti’s Minister of Transport and Equipment Moussa Ahmad Hassan, QTA chairman Issa bin Mohamed al-Mohannadi and Gulf Helicopters CEO Mohamed Ibrahim al-Mohannadi.
Al-Sulaiti, who led an aerial tour of Qatar after the ceremony, also highlighted the important role of tourism in boosting the country’s economic development. He said there is a positive relationship between tourism, and transport and communications industries.
“The more efficient and developed the transport sector, the more efficient and developed the tourism sector becomes,” al-Sulaiti observed.
QTA’s helicopter tours will now offer a chance to see Qatari sites from the sky. The ceremony yesterday also witnessed unveiling of two modern helicopters that will be used for the tour.
One is the “Bell 206L3,” described as one of the most successful helicopter designs in the world, which can carry at least four passengers.
The helicopter will take-off from the Doha Heliport and will fly over Al Shamal Road, then to Sidra Medical and Research Centre, West Bay Lagoon, The Pearl Qatar, Doha Corniche and will go back to Doha heliport at the Gulf Helicopters headquarters.
The flight will last for 35 minutes and fees start from QR3,300 which will be valid until March 31, 2015. The first flight starts at 2pm and ends at 2.35pm while the second flight is at 3pm until 3.35pm. The third flight starts at 3.55pm and ends at 4.30pm.
Tours will commence on December 19, a day after the Qatar National Day celebration. It will be held every Friday and Saturday with two tours each day.
QTA said the helicopter tour promises a “unique and unforgettable experience” seeing Doha from the sky.
Al-Mohannadi has expressed confidence that “Samana” will further attract and increase the number of visitors to Qatar, boosting its national tourism strategy towards 2030.
QTA has been putting up efforts to strengthen the partnership between public and private sectors aimed at boosting tourism in Qatar. Figures from its mid-year report showed that total visitor arrivals reached 1.42mn, an increase by 8% in the first half. More than 0.5mn GCC nationals (536,264) visited Qatar, representing 38% of tourists.
Hotel occupancy has also increased from 67% to 74% in the first half compared to the same period last year. Total revenue at four and five-star hotels has increased by 4%, reaching QR 1.98bn while 3-star hotels had a revenue of QR 82.51mn.
The growth was attributed to the increasing number of events, shows, exhibitions and a diverse range of activities throughout the year.
QTA, the Ministry of Transport, Gulf Helicopters and the Qatar Armed Forces have teamed up to create the new “touristic attraction.” An agreement with Regency Travels to promote “Samana” is also signed.
“It is possible now for citizens, residents, and tourists to take their families on unique helicopter tours in the skies of Doha,” added Gulf Helicopter CEO al-Mohannadi.
