The recent months have seen Qatar make a major push towards improving its tourism plans for the future.

It first made a splash by making it easier for people from different countries to visit Qatar by making visa requirements simpler. Now, the country is moving ahead with important plans to continue the momentum of change.

As part of restructuring efforts, the current Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) will soon be replaced by a new National Tourism Council soon, reported Gulf Times.

HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, who was speaking at the World Tourism Day celebration in Doha, said the new council will focus on strategic planning, attracting investments, developing and delivering festivals, regulatory affairs, and enhancing the visitor experience at every touch point.

The council will report to a board of high-level representatives from relevant sectors and private sector entities, which will be chaired by HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister.

The event also marked the launching of Qatar’s ‘Next Chapter of its National Tourism Sector Strategy,’ which charts a five-year plan of sustainable growth up to and beyond the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The Prime Minister revealed plans to open up new markets such as China, India and Russia, as well as strengthen Qatar’s presence in Europe, America and Asia, in addition to diversifying tourism products and offering investment opportunities to the private sector, reported The Peninsula.

Tourism zones

The Next Chapter introduces a tourism blueprint for the country, which identifies six geographic zones Qatar and ties each zone to tourism themes based on the area’s geographic characteristics and natural assets.

Local and international investors will be invited to develop tourism products and services in each geographic zone, in line with its proposed theme.
Here are the six proposed zones.

* Thanks to its unique biodiversity and beautiful natural landscapes, Al Khor and Al Thakhira will be developed as a place of eco-tourism. Investors will be invited to develop eco-lodges, nature tours, pearl-diving and water sports experiences.

* With the presence of museums and a host of other cultural attractions such as Souq Waqif and Katara, Doha will be established as cultural tourism hub.

* Boasting of historical sites, ancient villages and forts, Al Zubarah and Ras Brouq is set to be a history and heritage spot.

* Dukhan will be a destination for relaxation and wellness.
* Al Mashabiya and Al Eraiq will provide tourists family resorts and desert and hunting experiences.

* Al Udaid and Sealine will be a camping and adventure zone, providing tourists an experience of Qatari life and desert adventures, among others.