National Tourism Strategy and Tourism Law to Launch Soon: Says (QTA) Chairman

Doha, January 10 (QNA) - Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) Chairman Ahmed Abdullah Al Nuaimi revealed a national tourism strategy would be set in motion in a month to act as a roadmap to further advance the tourism sector in Qatar that witnessed great growth over the past five years. Al Nuaimi said in an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) Tuesday that the new strategy would have a 5- and 10-year range, i.e. 2011-2016 and 2011-2022, and would be consistent with Qatar National Vision 2030. Al Nuaimi spoke of a tourism law that would be issued soon as the first of its kind in the Gulf region. "It combines all tourism activities and aims at regulating and legislating all tourism aspects," Al Nuaimi explained. QTA chairman expected tourism to witness a significant surge and a quantum leap forward thanks to the excellent infrastructure and the interest the wise leadership of Qatar takes in such a crucial sector that generates billions of riyals annually for the national economy. Al Nuaimi added that new hotel projects and the growth in visitors' numbers whether from the Gulf region or for connection flights will help increase tourism sector revenue in 2012. Ten hotels will open in 2012, three of which are to open soon and they are the five-star hotels of InterContinental, St. Regis and Hilton. Latest QTA statistics showcased that Qatar has 10,412 hotel rooms, 2000 hotel apartments, 18 five-star hotels, 15 four-star hotels, 20 three-star hotels, 12 two-star hotels and three one-star hotels. Al Nuaimi announced that a tourism promotional tour in the Gulf would take place in April with a special focus on Saudi Arabia and would target the business sector in the Gulf. QTA carried out similar tours in Europe and Asia, Al Nuaimi said adding that they proved to be a success. Saudi visitors to Qatar jumped by 64% from 71,943 visitors in 2010 to 117,894 visitors in the first quarter of 2011. (QNA