The 10th anniversary edition of Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) taking place at Oxygen Park from March 20 to 30, offers food enthusiasts a unique opportunity to join internationally acclaimed chefs for an up-close interactive cooking session through QIFF 2019 Masterclasses.
During the festival, Chef’s Garden Restaurant in Education City will be hosting nine masterclasses with: Turkish Barista trainer Sam Cevikoz (March 20, 21, 23), Egyptian chef Salma Souleiman (March 26, 27), South African chef Siba Mtongana (March 27, 29), South African chef Jenny Morris (March 26, 29).
There will be a masterclass with Japanese chef Masharu Morimoto on March 23 at Morimoto Restaurant in Mondrian Hotel Doha. The restaurant’s/ hotels’ reservation platforms may be contacted for more details and booking. There are 12–20 seats available per table. Registration is free on first come, first serve basis. QIFF 2019 is a multicultural festival that celebrates the country’s diverse food, beverage and hospitality offerings. QIFF forms a part of Qatar National Tourism Council’s (QNTC) strategy to grow and diversify the country’s tourism offering, particularly in the area of family and urban entertainment.
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of partners in both the public and private sector, QIFF has grown since its first edition in 2010 to become one of the most-anticipated events in Qatar’s growing calendar of annual festivals and events. QNTC’s mission is to firmly establish Qatar on the global map as a place where cultural authenticity meets modernity, and where people of the world come together to experience unique offerings in culture, sports, business and family entertainment.
QNTC’s work is guided by the Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy (QNTSS), which seeks to diversify the country’s tourism offering and increase the sector’s contribution to Qatar’s economy by 2030. In 2017, the Next Chapter of QNTSS was launched, charting the next five years (2018-2023) of the tourism sector’s growth. In 2018, QNTC launched a global destination campaign under the tagline 'Qatar, Qurated for you.' Curating requires professional or expert knowledge to select, organise and present unique experiences. As such, the Qurated campaign plays on the word's definition and the destination brand's iconic Q to underscore the country's focus on delivering tailored visitor-centric experiences.
Since launching QNTSS, Qatar has welcomed over 12mn visitors. The economic impact of the tourism sector in Qatar is becoming increasingly visible with 2017 estimates showing a total (direct and indirect) contribution to Qatar’s GDP of 6.6%.