Qatar Tourism to spend USD 2.5 billion on expansion

This latest expansion in the country's tourism industry comes on the back of the announcement that Qatar is building a new $ 5 billion airport at Doha which should be completed by 2015.

The authority's International PR Manager, Bassem Al Terkawi, said: "Our main focus is to build our travel and tourism infrastructure. Last year our hotels had occupancy rates of between 80 per cent and 85 per cent so we need to open more hotels and upgrade existing hotels to accommodate demand. Our aim is to promote Qatar as a leading leisure, business, sport and education tourism destination in the Middle East."

Qatar has almost doubled the space it is taking at ATM, up from 120 square metres last year to 200 square metres, and is hosting more than 13 hotel and tour operators. The national carrier, Qatar Airways, also has a major presence at the show, which runs from May 4 - 7 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, with a 110 square metre pavilion of its own.

Qatar is hosting the World Travel & Tourism Council's 4th Global Travel & Tourism Summit in Doha from May 1 - 3.

This year's ATM is the largest in the event's 11-year-history with over 1,400 exhibitors from 55 countries and a 30% increase in occupied floor space. Matt Thompson, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), which organizes ATM, said: "Growth this year has come partially from increased national participation. Other countries which have increased the size of their pavilions include Malaysia and India."

Arabian Travel Market 2004 will also have first-time national participation from Iran and Abu Dhabi.