Chairman of Qatar Tourism Authority hails success of EIBTM exhibition

Speaking to delegates throughout EIBTM, Mr Al Nuaimi outlined the new worldwide tourism strategy to promote Qatar as a unique and world class MICE destination. This was met with a great deal of interest from visitors to EIBTM, and companies flocked to the stand to investigate new commercial partnerships designed to bring more visitors to Qatar. As per the EIBTM organisers, 28 % of hosted buyers were interested in Middle East this year, compared to 10 % during EIBTM 2007.

Business and tourism professionals endorsed the strategy to promote Qatar to the important European market, by focusing on buyers from the Meetings, Incentive, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) and leisure sector, among them conference and exhibitions organisers, and business people.

Numerous destination presentation on Qatar were held by QTEA staff and Qatari organisations and companies, describing Qatar as a unique combination of business and leisure, with upscale infrastructures and services. Lots of visitors and buyers seeking for a niche destination, close to Europe, expressed a strong interest in coming to Qatar very soon.

Speaking from Qatar's promotional stand, Mr Ahmed A. Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Qatar Tourism & Exhibitions Authority, said:

"It is very pleasing to see so many companies and countries are interested in working with Qatar to further promote our destination. Our attendance at the EIBTM and the meetings we had will help us meet our projected 20% growth in new travellers to Qatar over the next five years. We had a great team work with all Qatari organisations and companies at the QTEA stand. And we look forward to promoting business and upscale leisure in Qatar next week at the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) in Cannes."

Mr Paul D'Arcy, General Manager of Qatar National Convention Center, commented, "We received a great interest from 29 associations, during a dinner we hosted alongside EIBTM. Furthermore 100 associations came to our stand, and expressed their intention to come and organise meetings in our soon-to-open Qatar National Convention Center. Had we never met them in EIBTM, they would have never known that Qatar is a state-of-the-art business tourism destination. Qatar Foundation, of which QNCC is a member, captures imagination of buyers, with Education City, Qatar Science and Technology Park, and the Sidra Medical Research Center."

Qatar Tourism and Exhibitions Authority will continue to promote Qatar in forthcoming travel and tourism events around the world. These include next week ILTM in Cannes, and later on ITB in Berlin, GIBTM in Abu Dhabi and also the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.