NeXTfairs to launch Qatar Travel Mart 2021 in November at DECC

Tribune News Network Doha NeXTfairs for Exhibitions and Conferences announced that all preparations have been completed to launch the Qatar Travel Mart con...

Tribune News NetworkDohaNeXTfairs for Exhibitions and Conferences announced that all preparations have been completed to launch the Qatar Travel Mart conference from November 16 to 18, 2021, at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, in parallel with its virtual version through DigiCon platform. The event will feature 90 local and international companies, while also covering seven sectors such as luxury, business, sports, medical, leisure, culture and halal tourism.Rawad Sleem, General Manager of NeXTFairs for Exhibitions and Conferences, said the event represents a platform that leads the journey of tourism and travel sector’s recovery from the repercussions of the Coronavirus pandemic, especially that the World Cup 2022 countdown draws closer, giving a strong boost for the tourism and hotel sector.Sleem pointed out that the tourism industry in Qatar is a lucrative sector for developers and companies and provides opportunities for growth. He also stressed the importance of the business events industry in supporting the economy to recover, as NeXTFairs organizes a series of virtual and traditional conferences and exhibitions to enhance the growth of the national economy.Sleem indicated that all the precautionary measures will be applied to ensure the health and safety of the participants, exhibitors and visitors during the exhibition that will be held at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in parallel with its virtual version. The measures include regular and consistent disinfection of the halls and the public and private places as well as ensuring thorough disinfection of areas that entail meeting and communicating with visitors, especially reception halls, and other common places. The disinfection process will be carried out by highly trained technicians in accordance with international safety standards wearing appropriate personal protective equipment and using the latest spray technology. Sleem explained that a huge response has been received both locally and internationally from all in the travel and tourism sector. The list of the local participants include Retaj Hotels & Hospitality, Marsa Malaz Kempinski, St Regis, National Cruise, Gulf Adventures & First Travel & Tourism, while the international pavilions include African Tourism Board (ATB) and Agenzia Nazionale Turismo (ENIT). Moreover, the exhibition has attracted high profile exhibitors in destinations, airlines, hotels and resorts, tour operators, DMCs, cruise lines, transportation and travel technology companies. Sleem stressed that the tourism is a priority sector fundamental to economic diversification, which has been set as a key objective in the Qatar National Vision 2030. The sector has witnessed great development in terms of regulations and legislation that has promoted Qatar’s openness in tourism giving the local market the opportunity to attract the most prominent hotel brands in the world. Furthermore, Qatar tops the list of investment destinations in terms of returns on tourism and hotel investments in the Middle East. Sleem said that Qatar is the most active market regarding the number of hotel projects under development despite the repercussions of the Corona pandemic, as the number of the ongoing projects is 107 projects that include 21.5 thousand hotel rooms under development in the local market. The 107 projects include 70 hotels with 14,499 rooms, distributed over 33 five-star hotels, 26 four-star hotels, and 11 three-star hotels, while the total number of hotel apartments under development is 21 apartments with 4,363 rooms that include 15 regular hotel apartments, 6 luxury hotel apartments and 16 non-classified apartments.He added Qatar targets about 5.6 million tourists annually by 2023, while it is estimated that investment in the tourism sector will go up to USD 4 billion by 2028, with the share of the tourism sector in GDP to reach USD 36.57 billion. Not to mention that Qatar provides an encouraging investment environment in the tourism and hotel sector as well as a package of incentives that include: advanced infrastructure, a high rate of tourism spending as a result of the growth of the per capita share of GDP, as well as allocating lands for tourism activities under long-term contracts. In addition to, income tax exemption for a period of up to 10 Years in some sectors, granting import license for the necessary materials for investment projects, the exemption from customs taxes imposed on machinery required for investment projects, and the possibility of transferring investment revenues without any obstacles and in any currency.Sleem pointed out that Qatar has world-class facilities to hold business events, such as Qatar National Convention Center and Doha Exhibition and Conference Center. Moreover, Qatar Airways tops the list of the best airlines in the world and Hamad International Airport is currently implementing an expansion plan to increase the airport’s capacity to more than 53 million passengers by 2022, which supports Qatar’s leading position in the tourism sector regionally and internationally.