Qatar
Qatar to host first major global tourism conference
Qatar to host first major global tourism conference
By Joseph Varghese/Staff Reporter
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The first major international tourism conference of its kind in Qatar is to be hosted next month under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani by Stenden University Qatar (SUQ) in partnership with the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA). |
Titled ‘Tourism in Tomorrow’s World: What the future holds for tourism in the region,’ the conference will take place on February 23 and 24 at the Renaissance Doha City Center.
The event is in partnership with Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Company (ARTIC), a part of Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani’s Al Faisal Holding Group and the European Tourism Futures Institute (ETFI).
The conference was announced at a press conference attended by professor Robert Coelen, vice-president international and executive dean of SUQ, Hassan al-Ibrahim, director of strategy development at QTA and Nicolas Frangos, chief operating officer of ARTIC.
The event aims to underline the importance of tourism for Qatar and the region, focusing on Qatar’s recent tourism growth and showcasing its authentic culture, identity and heritage and focus on sustainability.
It will cover every sector of tourism and hospitality such as family tourism to business tourism, cultural, sun and beach, sports, education, health and environmental tourism.
It will address relevant cultural topical issues such as political tourism following the Arab Spring, as well as new industry developments and trends in the GCC and factors affecting tourism in the region.
Al-Ibrahim said that QTA’s strategic priorities include developing the tourism sector through stakeholder engagement and inclusion in implementing the national tourism strategy 2030.
“Hence we have developed a strong relationship with Stenden University Qatar through various initiatives,” he explained while observing that sectorial human capital development is also a priority of QTA.
“With the number of hotels and other tourism products and services currently under development, Qatar’s hospitality industry will be able to offer young people ambitious roles in international groups to provide a meaningful career path for life,” he added.
Professor Coelen stated that the conference will attract the world’s leading experts in hospitality and tourism to discuss important key trends, and the crucial role Qatar is to play in this sector in the near future.
“Hospitality and tourism will be an increasingly important aspect of Qatar’s economic diversification and it is vital we ensure our young people are properly educated and trained to take on meaningful careers in hospitality and tourism.”
The conference, which is to become an annual event, will feature internationally renowned tourism experts as keynote speakers including United Nations World Tourism World Tourism Organisation Secretary General Dr Taleb Rifai, QTA chairman Issa al-Mohannadi and top local and international tourism experts, academics and futurists.
The conference will also showcase major local and global players in tourism and hospitality.