For Immediate Release
20 April 2016
German buyers invited to Visit Qatar at IMEX Frankfurt
Looking to boost numbers of business tourists, Qatar Tourism Authority hostsevent planners
German event planners got a taste of Qatar’s hospitality at IMEX Frankfurt yesterday at a ‘buyer’s breakfast’ hosted by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) to promote the country as a destination for business events to the German and European markets.
The breakfast targeted conference organisers and representatives of associations seeking venues for their events. QTA invited many of these buyers to visit the country’s world-class facilities, as well as attend match-making sessions with the relevant local industries.
IMEX Frankfurt is a global trade show that brings the whole MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) industry together under one roof, enabling meeting planners, corporate meetings and conference organisers, and exhibitors to find their ideal destinations and set their forthcoming events in motion. 61% of the attendees are German.
QTAis exhibiting alongside 15 partners at the trade show this week, showcasing a full range of hotels, tour operators, event management companies, and state-of-the art venues, including Qatar National Convention Centre and the recently opened Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre.
In 2015, nearly 40,000 people from Germany visited Qatar.The visits come as Qatar steps up efforts to target German-speaking European markets, setting up a representative office in Berlin in early 2015.
“Qatar is a rapidly growing hub for education, sport, research, and healthcare, as well as oil & gas. Our country offers eye-opening experiences for business visitors of any background, both inside and beyond the walls of its venues,” commented Ahmed Al Obaidly, Acting Director of Exhibitions at QTA. “The German-speaking market is one that all business events destinations are competing for. Together with our partners we have achieved a strong presence and are delighted to share the wide spectrum of business and leisure options through our active participation at IMEX Frankfurt this year.”
A substantial number of visitors to Qatar are business tourists, attending myriad events staged annually.Qatar’s tourism strategy seeks to triple the number of business tourists by 2030, contributing at least half of the country’s revenue from tourism spending. In November 2015 QTA launched the Qatar Business Events brand, consolidating the image and promotional efforts of stakeholders in Qatar’s business events sector.
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Note to Editors:
The following partners are exhibiting at the Qatar Business Events stand:
- Qatar Airways
- Qatar National Convention Centre
- Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre
- Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention hotel
- Snow Comms
- Acon Travel
- UTA Engage
- Gulf Adventures
- Arabian Adventures Qatar
- Qatar International Adentures
- Sharq & Village Spa, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel
- Marriott Marquis City Centre Hotel Doha
- InterContinental Doha The City
- Shangri-La Doha
- Holiday Villa hotel & Residency City Centre Doha
For further information, please contact:
QTA Press Office
+974 33180096
@QTACorporate
About Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA)
Long-recognised by the country’s leadership as an avenue to further Qatar’s development, tourism has been designated a priority sector by the government. Qatar Tourism Authority’s mission is to firmly establish Qatar on the global map as a world-class tourism destination with deep cultural roots. In 2014 QTA launched the Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy (QNTSS), which seeks to diversify the country’s tourism offering and increase the sector’s contribution to Qatar’s economy by 2030.
QTA works in partnership with public and private stakeholders to achieve this mission by planning, regulating and promoting a sustainable and diverse tourism industry.
As part of its planning efforts, QTA identifies types of tourism products and services that will contribute to the Qatar tourism experience, and works to attract investment for their development.
Regulation efforts involve ensuring tourism sector establishments operate at the highest standards while perpetuating Qatar’s culture.
QTA promotes Qatar as a destination around the world, through its destination branding, international representation and participation at trade shows, and by developing a rich calendar of festivals and events. With a growing international presence, QTA’s representative offices in London, Paris, Berlin, Milan, Singapore, and Riyadh support QTA’s promotion efforts.
Since launching QNTSS, Qatar has welcomed over 6 million visitors, and achieved an average annual growth in arrivals of 11.5% between 2010-2015. The economic impact of the tourism sector in Qatar is becoming increasingly visible with 2014 estimates showing a total impact on Qatar’s total GDP of 4.1%.