The tourism sector would need to devise ways “to be able to live with” Covid-19 as many countries are continuously fighting the pandemic, particularly new variants of the novel coronavirus, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive and Qatar Tourism Chairman HE Akbar al-Baker has said.
In doing so, he said tourism authorities can continue their affairs possibly in “a more controlled and smaller way”, which could then gradually increase as different parts of the world achieve herd immunity.
HE al-Baker was speaking at a recent press conference and signing ceremony in Doha announcing a partnership between Qatar Tourism and the Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS). The two organisations signed an agreement to develop and host a new and one-of-its-kind motor show for the Middle East, set to take place in Doha in 2023.
About the tourism industry’s return to normalcy, HE al-Baker stressed he cannot give an answer at this time due to a number of factors such as the continuous surge of infections in several parts of the world, including the US, the UK, and Africa, among others.
“There are still major parts of the world that need to be vaccinated. There will be new variants, there will be new waves, we have seen in the US they are having a massive wave of infections, you can see the increase in infection rates in the UK keeping in mind that most of their population is vaccinated… really I wish I have the crystal ball to give that answer but I cannot,” al-Baker said.
As for the tourism between Switzerland and Qatar, he said GIMS has been attracting visitors not only within Switzerland but from all over the world.
“It’s not only concentrating just because the show has the name ‘Geneva’ that it will only attract people from Switzerland. It will attract people from all over the world, who are motor enthusiasts and also within our region, the biggest motor enthusiasts are in our region,” the Qatar Tourism chairman said, adding that this prestigious event will also further boost the country’s home-grown Qatar Motor Show.
“The aim of Qatar Tourism is not only to concentrate to develop tourism in one country, our aim is to attract the world to Qatar and this is what will we do. GIMS is only one of the events that we are targeting. There will be many other events which gradually we will unveil as and when the pandemic is coming under control and that major parts of the world, especially the target markets of us as Qatar Tourism, get herd immunity,” al-Baker said.
Echoing al-Baker’s statement, GIMS’ Permanent Committee president Maurice Turrettini said: It is fair to say that the outlook for the motor show to be developed in Qatar is dazzling. As an emerging tourism destination with the vibrant business metropolis of Doha as its capital, we see huge potential for this new platform. I am sure that it will be a magnet for exhibitors and visitors alike far beyond the borders of the country and the continent.”
In doing so, he said tourism authorities can continue their affairs possibly in “a more controlled and smaller way”, which could then gradually increase as different parts of the world achieve herd immunity.
HE al-Baker was speaking at a recent press conference and signing ceremony in Doha announcing a partnership between Qatar Tourism and the Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS). The two organisations signed an agreement to develop and host a new and one-of-its-kind motor show for the Middle East, set to take place in Doha in 2023.
About the tourism industry’s return to normalcy, HE al-Baker stressed he cannot give an answer at this time due to a number of factors such as the continuous surge of infections in several parts of the world, including the US, the UK, and Africa, among others.
“There are still major parts of the world that need to be vaccinated. There will be new variants, there will be new waves, we have seen in the US they are having a massive wave of infections, you can see the increase in infection rates in the UK keeping in mind that most of their population is vaccinated… really I wish I have the crystal ball to give that answer but I cannot,” al-Baker said.
As for the tourism between Switzerland and Qatar, he said GIMS has been attracting visitors not only within Switzerland but from all over the world.
“It’s not only concentrating just because the show has the name ‘Geneva’ that it will only attract people from Switzerland. It will attract people from all over the world, who are motor enthusiasts and also within our region, the biggest motor enthusiasts are in our region,” the Qatar Tourism chairman said, adding that this prestigious event will also further boost the country’s home-grown Qatar Motor Show.
“The aim of Qatar Tourism is not only to concentrate to develop tourism in one country, our aim is to attract the world to Qatar and this is what will we do. GIMS is only one of the events that we are targeting. There will be many other events which gradually we will unveil as and when the pandemic is coming under control and that major parts of the world, especially the target markets of us as Qatar Tourism, get herd immunity,” al-Baker said.
Echoing al-Baker’s statement, GIMS’ Permanent Committee president Maurice Turrettini said: It is fair to say that the outlook for the motor show to be developed in Qatar is dazzling. As an emerging tourism destination with the vibrant business metropolis of Doha as its capital, we see huge potential for this new platform. I am sure that it will be a magnet for exhibitors and visitors alike far beyond the borders of the country and the continent.”