Qatar’s hospitality sector ‘among best in the region’

The vast opportunities offered by Qatar’s hospitality market makes the country “one of the best in the region,” according to the chairman of Katara Hospitality, who inaugurated yesterday ‘Hospitality Qatar 2018’ being held until tomorrow at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre.
“The event is growing in stature year after year, as reflected by the rising number of local, regional, and international exhibitors who are drawn to the opportunities offered by Qatar’s hospitality market,” said Sheikh Nawaf bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani.
Sheikh Nawaf said Hospitality Qatar 2018 has attracted 188 exhibitors from 20 countries. He noted that Qatar’s hospitality industry “will witness a boom in 2022,” as part of the country’s efforts to develop the hospitality sector in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the FIFA World Cup.
“Due to these efforts, Qatar’s hospitality sector has become one of the best in the region, especially with the development of hotel projects and high-end tourism destinations like resorts and entertainment venues, to host diverse events that promote Qatar’s position as leading tourism and hospitality destination at the regional and international levels,” Sheikh Nawaf stressed.
This year’s exhibition provides the ideal platform for local and international companies to network and collaborate on strategic projects. It also offers industry professionals, investors, and visitors the opportunity to explore Qatar’s growing hospitality market and establish their presence in the country.
Qatar is fast-tracking tourism projects to increase visitor arrivals, particularly in view of the FIFA World Cup to be held here in 2022.
The number of exhibitors taking part in the event reflects the scope and potential of Qatar’s hospitality industry amid the series of major international hotel and tourism projects being implemented across the country.
Ahmed al-Obaidli, director of Exhibitions at National Tourism Council (NTC), inaugurated yesterday the first Future of Tourism in Qatar conference organised in partnership with the NTC and IFP Qatar.
The Future of Tourism in Qatar conference is the first of its kind to deal with topics such as the role of innovation and new technologies in developing the tourism sector in Qatar, enhancing the customer experience and launching new initiatives in the culinary sector.
It highlights the opportunities and challenges facing the Qatari tourism sector. It also presents new strategies, technologies and innovations to keep abreast of developments, focus on industry best practices, as well as explore ways to maximise the development of the sector.
The conference features six panel sessions, eight presentations, and a series of speeches, bringing together experts and entrepreneurs to discuss Qatar’s preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Ahmad Nasser Sraiya al-Kaabi, chief operating officer of Al Sraiya Holding Group, said: “The exhibition is poised to further strengthen Qatar’s regional and international position as a leading destination for hospitality and tourism by supporting companies, service providers and investors in exploring emerging opportunities in one of the world’s leading tourism destinations.
“With the launch of the National Tourism Council, we will witness enhancements in initiatives aimed at attracting tourism investments. It supports the comprehensive development plans for the sector towards improving the tourism experience in Qatar and boosting the country’s rich cultural heritage.”

Algeria stresses on developing trade relations with Qatar
Algerian Trade Minister Said Djellab stressed his country’s keenness on developing trade and investment relations with Qatar in line with the distinct political relations between the two countries. On the sidelines of Hospitality Qatar 2018 yesterday, the Algerian minister underlined that both countries have great opportunity to enhance the trade and investment partnership. A total of 31 Algerian companies, specialising in food, agricultural production and other hospitality-related products, are participating in Hospitality Qatar where they occupy up to 20% of the exhibition space. The Algerian trade minister said that participation in the exhibition aims to highlight economic diversification, especially the diversification of food production in Algeria, which opens up prospects for co-operation with Qatar in the field of intra-trade and development of investment partnerships. He noted that his meetings with officials in the country focused mainly on these issues. he minister added that he had also discussed the possibility of organising the largest exhibition in Qatar for Algerian food and agricultural products next year, noting that the participation in Hospitality Qatar represents an opportunity for Qatari companies to learn about the Algerian products which are characterised by quality and competitiveness. He expressed the hope to increase the volume of trade exchange between Qatar and Algeria in the coming years.