As interest in Qatar among Saudi tourists and travel agents grows, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) is stepping up efforts to tap into the market through a strong presence at the Riyadh
Travel Fair.
Joining for the first time as a strategic partner of the event, QTA led a delegation of 18 co-exhibitors, which represents a cross section of Qatar’s tourism sector.
Rashed al-Qurese, chief marketing and promotions officer, QTA, said this year’s fair provides an important platform to capitalise on the strong demand from the Saudi market to reinforce Qatar’s position as the destination of choice for Saudi consumers and travel agents.
“Saudi Arabia tops our source markets both in terms of its current size and rate of growth over the past five years,” he said in a press statement.
He noted that in the first quarter of 2016, the number of Saudi visitors to Qatar increased by 16% (280,255) compared to the same period in 2015 (241,008).
“We will continue to build on this positioning especially as we near the summer events that are popular among GCC tourists, including Eid celebrations in Qatar and Qatar Summer Festival,” al-Qurese added.
The first quarter of 2016 had seen an 11% increase in the number of visitors to Qatar from all GCC countries (403,023) compared to the first quarter of 2015 (361,660), with most of the growth generated by Saudi Arabia.
The QTA official attributes the growth to the shared language and heritage, which allows tourists from Saudi Arabia to enjoy the excitement of visiting a luxury destination while feeling at home and ensuring their families are comfortable.
Last year, 1.3mn visitors from the GCC came to Qatar, marking a 16% increase from 2014 and following a large-scale promotional drive that involved a series of roadshows throughout Gulf countries.
In addition, more than 160 travel agents in the region completed QTA’s online Tawash training programme, which aims to equip travel agents with knowledge of Qatar’s landmarks and unique tourism offerings.
Al-Qurese said the fair provides a unique opportunity for QTA and its partners to engage directly with consumers looking for their next holiday destination, in addition to travel agents and other professionals in the leisure tourism industry.
“This is Qatar Destination Brand’s first appearance in Riyadh and it is being introduced through a newly designed stand and renewed emphasis on Qatar’s offering as a world class destination with deep cultural roots,” he added.
The Fair continues until April 15 and expects to receive close to 20,000 visitors. More than 55 countries are represented through 219 exhibitors.
Co-exhibitors at QTA’s stand (Stand E-1) include Kempinski Marsa Malaz, Qatar International Adventures, Marriott Marquis City Centre Doha Hotel, InterContinental Doha - The City, Crown Plaza Doha - The Business Park, Holiday Villa Hotel & Residence, Sapphire Plaza Hotel Doha, Warwick Doha Hotel, Grand Heritage Doha Hotel & Spa, Somerset West Bay Hotel, Al Sultan Beach Resort, CORP Executive Hotel Doha, Acon Travel, Amari Doha, Concord Hotel Doha, Doha Downtown Hotel Apartment, Westin Doha Hotel & Spa, Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel.