Qatar: most open country in the region

IN the past months, #Qatar has taken huge strides in implementing visa policies to facilitate visitor access to the country, resulting in Qatar now qualifying as the most open country in the region. It is now easier than ever before for visitors from nearly half of the world’s countries to discover the destination’s renowned hospitality, cultural heritage and natural treasures.

In August 2017, Qatar’s Ministry of Interior (MoI), Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and Qatar Airways announced that nationals of 80 countries are now eligible for #visa-free entry, without requiring any prior applications or fee payments.

A recent addition also includes the Electronic Travel Authorisation System, available to visitors of all nationalities who hold valid residence permits or visas from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Schengen countries, or the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

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The next chapter for Qatar tourism

QATAR has launched the Next Chapter of its National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030, which charts the next five years of the tourism sector’s growth in Qatar. The bold and transformative plan was announced by His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, at the UNWTO’s official celebration of World Tourism Day, which is being hosted this year in Doha.

The Next Chapter defines what #Qatar will be known for as a tourist destination, and guides the development of products, services, and experiences that will bring this vision to life. His Excellency also announced that in the coming months, the sector’s governance will be reorganised around a new National Tourism Council that is empowered to focus and integrate the efforts of key stakeholders and facilitators in ways that will provide clarity, direction, and momentum for the #tourism sector’s improvement and growth.

The Next Chapter aims to attract 5.6 million visitors to Qatar annually by 2023, double the number which the country welcomed in 2016. It also aims to achieve a 72% occupancy rate across all hotel establishments, through a combination of increasing demand and diversifying the country’s tourist accommodation offering.

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Adrenalin adventures in Oman

TRAVELLERS with a sense of #adventure need look no further than #Oman to satisfy the next adrenalin rush. No other Gulf region offers such a diverse range of great outdoor adventures across a striking terrain that travels back 500 million years of geological time.

Desert Dune Bashing - Huge rolling dunes as far as the eye can see makes for a white knuckle ride dune bashing in 4WD’s at Shaqiya Sands- less than 3 hours from Muscat. Take a quad bike or camel over the dunes and watch the world turn pink and orange with a spectacular desert sun set. 

Caves and Canyons - For those who like their adventure on the extreme side, the thrill of rock-climbing and abseiling awaits. Climbers from around the globe are drawn to the high peaks of the Hajar mountains, and to the beautiful sea cliffs along the Omani coast. First-time climbers can attempt one of several Via Ferrata (‘by wire’) routes which keep them permanently attached to a cable via a harness for maximum safety at Snake Canyon, Jabel Shams and Jabal Akhdar. 

Take a Hike  - The challenging terrain of Oman’s ‘Sun Mountain’, Jabal Shams – standing 3009 metres above sea level as the country’s highest mountain peak – is a perfect place to start an adventure tour. 

Wadi Bash - Go off-road and experience one of Oman’s fastest growing adventure sports. Throughout the Sultanate there are many opportunities for travellers to hit the dirt, water and sand dunes in a 4 x 4 wheel drive. 

Snorkel and Scuba - Oman’s magnificent marine environment draws in adventurous travellers with the opportunity to snorkel, scuba dive and kayak in sparkling turquoise waters that support vibrant coral reefs. 

Get Airborne - Kitesurfing is one of the fastest growing and extreme water sports to be enjoyed in the Gulf’s warm waters and Masirah Island has the only kitesurfing academy in the Gulf where you can camp out on the island in Bedouin style tents. 

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Warner Bros. theme park for Abu Dhabi

A WARNER BROS.-THEMED destination is to open in #AbuDhabi. On Yas Island, the development will include a Warner Bros. theme park and the world’s first Warner-branded hotel. The first phase of the project, #WarnerBros. World Abu Dhabi, is scheduled to open in 2018. Construction is underway and rides are in production. 

The attraction will feature stories and characters from the studio’s portfolio of DC Comics super heroes, including Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, as well as Warner Bros. cartoons such as Bugs Bunny, Scooby-Doo and Tom and Jerry. Guests will be able to step inside Gotham City and Metropolis, and experience the cartoon worlds of Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera under one roof.

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi aims to help Yas Island take its annual visitor tally from 25 million in 2015 to 30 million in 2018. 

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VisitBritain and Turkish Airlines in tourism partnership

VISITBRITAIN and Turkish Airlines have partnered in a global marketing campaign to attract more international visitors to the UK. The campaign will focus initially on India, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf states.

Turkish Airlines serves seven cities in Saudi Arabia, providing even more connectivity to UK regions via its Istanbul hub.

A digital campaign will be launched in India early next year. Turkish Airlines is also supporting VisitBritain’s ‘Bollywood is GREAT campaign’, focusing on promoting Britain’s culture and countryside.

Longer-terms plans could include more promotional activity in Turkey.

#VisitBritain chief executive, Sally Balcombe, said: ‘We are very pleased to be the first national tourist body to develop a global partnership marketing campaign with Turkish Airlines. There are significant growth opportunities in the markets served by Turkish Airlines, including the emerging market of Saudi Arabia, using the airline’s global connectivity and rapidly expanding network.

‘This partnership will also allow us to target our marketing to inspire more international visitors to come and explore all the nations and regions of Britain, so we can continue to create jobs and deliver our ambitious plans for growth.’ 

Turkish Airlines chief marketing officer, Ahmet Olmustur, adds: ‘The travel market in the UK continues to go from strength-to-strength and therefore we strongly believe this partnership will further enhance visitor numbers in the UK in the coming year. Turkish Airlines is always investing in the UK and, along with partnerships such as this, we hope to see big inroads being made in terms of visitor numbers.’

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