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The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), in cooperation with Qatar Youth Hostels, concluded the activities of the Enhanced Tourism in Artificial Intelligence Camps with the participation of 14 young men and women. The camp was held as part of the Knowledge program of Qatar Youth Hostels, while MCIT's Studio 5 initiative provided practical training to the participants over three days, totaling six training hours. The sessions focused on employing AI and programming technologies and the principles of user interface and user experience (UI/UX) design to develop digital solutions related to trip planning, improving the tourist experience, and facilitating access to cultural experiences through smart mobile applications. This resulted in the development of prototypes for smart applications, including solutions to overcome cultural and linguistic barriers and facilitate access, as well as applications that help tourists in emergencies and enable them to discover lesser-known tourist destinations. The participants also developed a prototype of an intelligent tourist conversation assistant called Travel AI Chat, which allows visitors to Qatar to get instant answers to inquiries and directs them to the relevant authorities for tourist and public services according to their needs.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC), in cooperation with Qatar Youth Hostels and the Friends of the Environment Center (FEC) affiliated with the Ministry of Sports and Youth, organised a series of training workshops at the headquarters of the FEC. This initiative comes as part of the preparations for the annual Youth Support Camp programme, aiming to enhance environmental awareness among young people and introduce them to the scientific and technical principles of breeding and conserving the Houbara bustard, one of Qatar’s important environmental symbols. The workshops included three main training sessions, covering various topics such as: the basic scientific and technical principles of breeding Houbara bustard in captivity; the importance of preserving biodiversity in nature reserves; sustainable environmental care methods; and the role of youth in protecting wildlife. Mohamed bin Nahar al-Nuaimi, director of the External Reserves Office at the MoECC, affirmed that organising these workshops comes within the efforts to promote environmental awareness and spread a culture of sustainability among young people. “Introducing the new generation to the fundamental principles of breeding and conserving the Houbara bustard represents an important step in instilling the concept of environmental responsibility and highlighting national efforts to protect wildlife and preserve biodiversity,” he explained. Al-Nuaimi pointed out that through these training programmes, the ministry seeks to enable young men and women to gain knowledge of modern scientific methods for bird breeding and environmental preservation, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, which places sustainable development at the heart of its goals. He added that the External Reserves Office will continue organising specialised training and awareness programmes and events to enhance community participation in environmental protection and to instill the values of conserving natural resources among all segments of society, especially youth.

Qatar Youth Hostels (QYH) has concluded its "Your Game is My Idea" hackathon.Held in partnership with the Studio 5 Initiative, the five-day hackathon from September 14-18 targeted those aged 13-17, with the participation of 22 young men and women."We witnessed the conclusion of the 'Your Game is My Idea' hackathon for the 13-17 age group, in a successful and fruitful partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) through the Studio 5 Initiative,” the QYH said yesterday."The hackathon focused on video game design through programming and interactive design, with the aim of promoting Qatari culture and innovation,” it continued. “This exceptional edition witnessed diverse participation and creative ideas from participants to create innovative tourism and heritage games aimed at promoting tourism and technology culture."During the first three days, participating teams were engaged in understanding the process and environment of creating and designing games and characters.On the fourth day, they entered the programming phase of the approved game ideas.On the final day, the teams completed their game development and submitted them to the testing phase.Each team presented and explained their game to the judging panel headed by Nouf Abdulaziz al-Haddad, the chief of the Digital Competencies Department and director of Studio 5 at the MCIT.The *Peninsula game was selected as the programme's winning game.During her speech at the closing ceremony, al-Haddad emphasised that "Studio 5's participation in organising the 'Your Game is My Idea' hackathon falls within the MCIT’s efforts to develop digital skills among Qatari youth by providing an interactive learning environment that enhances their capabilities”.“The hackathon enables participants to gain practical experience in developing digital games that reflect Qatari identity, from concept design to implementation, strengthening their technical capabilities and preparing them for a promising digital future,” she said.The QYH concluded that "through these programmes, we aspire to encourage children to become more involved in the fields of tourism and technology, discover their talents, and harness them in projects that help develop their skills so they can become leaders in various areas of life”.