People enjoying a day out at Mesaieed beach during the Eid weekend
By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter

Hundreds of people have been flocking to the country’s beaches during the Eid holidays.Inquiries made in each of the country’s five most-frequented beaches found that barring Ruweis, all other locations have attracted hordes of visitors since Thursday afternoon. Ongoing developmental works at the Ruweis beach has prevented people from visiting the place.
While the beaches in Al Khor, Mesaieed and Dukhan attracted a large number of bachelors, in Wakrah,  family groups dominated  the visitors most days.
Local tour operators urged the country’s tourist bodies to explore options to encourage visits to beaches, at least in the next four months “with a clear-cut programme”.
Even though some local tour operators have started packages like desert safaris, including stay in dunes in Mesaieed,  no systemic plans have been worked out to boost travel to the country’s beaches. One of them felt the local authorities could make a beginning in this direction with the posting of experts in safety, security and health on beaches.
“ Posting of such experts in beach areas would promote journeys to the seaside,” he said.
Tourist operators also feel the necessity of connecting Qatar’s beach areas through public transport. “Increased connectivity between the beaches would enhance the travel of tourists ,” pointed out a travel agent.
Those in the hospitality industry wanted  authorities to give more licences for cafeterias and entertainment facilities on the beaches.
“Efforts should also be initiated by agencies concerned to host music and cultural shows in the evenings on beaches in a bid to make the expatriates famialirise with the Qatari culture,” a Western expatriate said.