*Advisory Council refers draft law to Financial and Economic Affairs Committee
The Advisory Council, after deliberations, referred the draft law on the establishment of a National Tourism Council to the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee for further action.
The Cabinet had last month approved the draft law on establishing the tourism council, which is expected to provide a further boost to Qatar’s tourism sector through a multi-pronged approach.
Working under the supervision of the Prime Minister, the national council is to create the best conditions for the implementation of the national strategy for tourism and to promote comprehensive tourism development plans.
The tourism council will seek to “achieve the best conditions for the implementation of the national strategy for tourism and its subsidiary programmes, in order to promote comprehensive development plans for the tourism sector and organise and promote them internally and externally,” the draft law said. The council will aim to “improve the tourism experience in the country and show the civilisational, cultural, artistic and touristic features of the State”.
According to the draft law, the National Tourism Council shall exercise all necessary powers and terms of reference to achieve its objectives, including the “adoption and review of the national strategy for tourism, preparation for and follow-up on the implementation of the projects and programmes that are part of the strategy, as well as the approval of the State's development, economic and infrastructure plans and programmes that are related to the strategy and following up on its implementation in accordance with Qatar National Vision 2030”.
Also, the Advisory Council discussed the draft law regulating tourism. The provisions of this draft law included the definition of the conditions and procedures for the licensing of tourist establishments and the licensee's obligations. The law prohibits the licensee from committing any act contrary to the law, public order or morals at the licensed tourist establishment.
The council also discussed the draft law on regulating business events. Provisions of this draft law specify the conditions and procedures for the licensing of business events, organisers, venues and the obligations of the licensee, in addition to ways to waive, transfer and cancel the license. The draft law also details the powers conferred upon the Secretary-General and penalties for violators.
After deliberation, the Advisory Council decided to refer the draft laws to the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee for further consideration and submitting reports thereon to the Council.
The council held its regular weekly session under the chairmanship of HE the Speaker Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud.
At the outset of the meeting, the speaker briefed the council on the outcomes of the summit of the Arab Parliamentary Councils, which was held in the Moroccan capital Rabat on December 14. The meeting was held for discussing the latest developments on the situation of Jerusalem.
Following this, the council read memos from the Cabinet with regard to a number of draft laws.
