With improving weather conditions leading up to the winter season, a surge in travel activities among the local population is expected in different touristic areas across Qatar, an expert in the travel and tourism industry has said.
Because of quarantine and travel restrictions, there is an increase in people’s spending on domestic tourism-related activities, said Tawfeeq Travel Group CEO Rehan Ali Syed, citing also high occupancy levels in beach resorts and hotels.
“Many people now prefer ‘staycations’ because of the current pandemic-related conditions. And considering that the Covid-19 infections in Europe are rising, many travellers are worried to go there.
“However, we’ve received a lot of queries for countries such as the Maldives, where people are still willing to travel. The same is true with Turkey; a good number of people want to go there,” Syed told Gulf Times on Monday.
At the same time, Syed noted that there has been a “big surge” in travel arrangements within Qatar. “We find it quite difficult to get the preferred date among leading resorts,” he said.
“There is also a lot of corporate queries where people plan to enjoy a day out with their families or queries for team building activities in resorts along the Sealine area in Mesaieed,” he said.
Several activities are also ongoing, such as kayaking adventures in Al Khor, desert safari, dinner on a dhow cruise, and tours to other local tourist spots, Syed said.
“Qatar has a lot to offer and there are many things that people can do in the country. The malls are also staging a lot of activities that people can enjoy. For kids, the National Museum of Qatar and the Qatar National Library are always good places to visit; there is something more to explore,” he said.
But Syed was also quick to emphasise that while tourism activities are starting to pick up, local tourists must continue to strictly abide by the health regulations mandated by the Ministry of Public Health to protect themselves and others from Covid-19.
“We have to take precautions – stay home, stay safe; at the same time, for enjoyment you need to find locations where you don’t interact with other people in close proximity, so many outdoor activities are available,” Syed said.
