Decade of tourism development underway in Qatar 06.02.2013: Photo caption: Qatar, One of the Middle East’s fastest growing tourism destinations

Photo caption: Qatar, One of the Middle East’s fastest growing tourism destinations.



50 million passengers for new airport by 2015 as government ploughs US$65 billion into infrastructure: Doha next destination for ATM 2013 road show


Qatar is one of the fastest growing markets in the Gulf, with business and leisure tourism on the ascendant as the country develops its infrastructure as part of a US$65 billion investment plan ahead of its hosting of the 2022 football World Cup.


According to Qatar Tourism, the official government body, the country is entering a sustained decade-long period of development and growth, with over 85,000 new hotel rooms set to bolster current inventory by 2022. Alpen Capital’s October 2012 GCC Hospitality Industry Report highlighted the ‘slow but steady’ growth in tourism receipts, which saw a CAGR of 15.9% in the period 2002 to 2011.


“Tourist arrivals in Qatar are expected to rise at a CAGR of 1.9% between now and 2022, and the government’s US$65 billion commitment to infrastructure development has proved to be a major incentive for long term investment by leading hospitality providers,” said Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.


In 2012, the capital added to its upscale inventory, with the opening of the St Regis Doha and new InterContinental Doha The City, as well as the country’s first Hilton hotel. A second Four Seasons hotel is currently under development and budget brands are making an appearance with the popular Premier Inn chain debuting on the city outskirts later this year. Currently the luxury segment accounts for between 66 and 78% of supply while, mid-scale and economy supply is between 22 and 34%.


“Tourist arrivals in Qatar are expected to rise at a CAGR of 1.9% between now and 2022, and the government’s US$65 billion commitment to infrastructure development has proved to be a major incentive for long term investment by leading hospitality providers,” said Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.


Qatar has an exceptionally strong presence at this year’s ATM show with major organisations such as Qatar Tourism Authority, Katara Hospitality and Qatar Airways all participating.


“Katara Hospitality alone has more than 4,000 hotel rooms already operational or under construction and with the introduction of more and more budget properties, Qatar is committed to the development of a well-rounded tourism product in line with the 2030 national vision for a sustainable economy,” he added.


Hotel room capacity in Qatar is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.1% over the next five years, hitting US$1.1 billion by 2016 (up from US$0.6 billion in 2011). The country’s national carrier, Qatar Airways will launch six new routes in H1 2013, growing its current network to 123 key destinations. Ground has also been broken on the new US$14 million Doha metro network.


“As world-class infrastructure projects gives rise to new economic opportunity, with tourist arrivals expected to reach as a many as 3.7 million by 2022, Qatar will see a transition from a predominantly business-led visitor profile to a stronger business-leisure mix with the football World Cup a milestone marker for the hospitality and tourism industry,” commented Walsh.


Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, 2013 will see the show celebrate two decades of success.


Covering the entire week, the popular Seminar Theatre programme will address industry hot topics from developments in the aviation sector, inbound and outbound trends as well as the development of tourism over the last 20 years of Arabian Travel Market.


The line-up for this year’s Arabian Travel Market will once again bring together the UNWTO regional tourism ministers’ conference and the WTM Vision forum, which will focus on Middle East travel trends and the online travel market.




About Reed Travel Exhibitions

Arabian Travel Market is organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), the world’s leading provider of exhibitions in the travel and tourism industry. Its wide-ranging portfolio of events around the globe covers leisure travel, luxury travel, business travel and the meetings and incentives industry.


Reed Travel Exhibitions also organises Abu-Dhabi based global meetings and incentive exhibition, GIBTM which takes place from 25-27 March 2013.  In 2011 RTE 13 events were the catalyst for £2,807 million worth of travel and tourism business deals. 


The 13 events are; World Travel Market (WTM), Arabian Travel Market (ATM), International French Travel Market (IFTM), La Cumbre, International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM), International Luxury Travel Market Asia (ILTMA), Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) (owned by Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau), Global Exhibition for Incentive, Business Travel, and Meetings (EIBTM), Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM), Americas Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (AIBTM), China Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (CIBTM) and Business Travel Market.


2012 saw the launch of these exciting new events with The Spa & Wellness Summit taking place in Austria Tyrol (10-12 September), ILTM Americas launching in Mayakoba, Mexico (1-3 October).  Furthermore, April 2013 will see RTE launch ILTM Japan in Tokyo(11 -13 March), ILTM Africa taking place in Cape Town (8-9 April), World Travel Market Latin America in São Paulo, Brazil (23-25 April) and the newest addition to the Meetings and Incentives Portfolio, IBTM India launching in Mumbai (12-14 September).


In 2011 RTE’s 13 events were the catalyst for £2,807 million worth of travel and tourism business deals.


RTE is a business unit of Reed Exhibitions. In 2011, six million participants attended RE’s 500 events in 39 countries covering 44 industry sectors from aerospace and aviation to beauty and cosmetics to sports and recreation.


Reed Exhibitions is owned by Reed Elsevier, the world’s leading provider of professional information and online workflow solutions.

 

About Reed Exhibitions

Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events organizer, with over 500 events in 39 countries. In 2011 Reed brought together six million active event participants from around the world, generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa and organized by 33 fully staffed offices.


 Reed Exhibitions serves 44 industry sectors with trade and consumer events and is part of the Reed Elsevier Group plc, a world-leading publisher and information provider and a FTSE 100 company. www.reedexpo.com

     


Josse Dulka, Shamal Marketing Communications, also photo