Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) is continuously training and licensing tour guides aimed at providing visitors with unique and curated experiences.
QNTC launched in 2018 a global destination campaign under the tagline ‘Qatar, Qurated for you.’ Curating requires professional or expert knowledge to select, organise and present unique experiences.
Speaking at the Sixth Annual Tourism Industry Ghabga on Monday, QNTC Secretary General HE Akbar al-Baker said 137 tour guides have already been licensed.
“As all travellers know, every tour needs a good tour guide. As the first point of contact between visitors and the host country, they are integral to a visitor’s overall experience,” he noted.
The QNTC secretary general stressed that they will be working hard in the coming period to ensure that no one practice this profession without having the proper licensing and required training.
In addition, QNTC will also constantly develop assets to further broaden the appeal of Qatar, to include families and cultural seekers while making Doha a more recognised and attractive short break destination.
“From aviation to hospitality, retail to culture, Qatar has something for everyone. With new products in the pipeline, you are all a credit to the burgeoning sector. Together, we can bring the world to Qatar,” HE al-Baker said.
He cited the critical role the private sector plays in developing the country’s tourism, in close collaboration with the public sector.
“This summer is just one example of how the various sectors have come together to develop exciting tourism products,” HE al-Baker said. “It is a testament to your hard work, and innovative approach, that we continue to witness growth, and win awards at a global level.”
At the event, he highlighted the achievements of Qatar’s tourism sector over the past period, noting a 10% increase in the number of visitors in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the same period last year.
“Since the last time members of the tourism industry gathered, there have been monumental shifts in the sector and the organisation guiding it. Qatar Tourism Authority has become the National Tourism Council,” he said.
“This governance change has put tourism high up on the national agenda and will facilitate the collaboration needed between public and private sectors partners to build a thriving and sustainable tourism industry,” he stressed.
