Maiden Qatar Tourism roadshow attracted good attendance by Indian travel trade, showing curiosity for the emerging gulf destination. Delegation from Qatar Tourism Authority, Hotels, DMCs and a Transport company was in Mumbai and Delhi on 7th and 8th August. This followed the opening of Qatar Tourism office in Mumbai, India (in May) and the announcement of visa free entry in September 2017.
Jenny Bakes of Qatar Tourism said: “We have made entering Qatar easy for Indians plus 79 other country citizens by waving off visa. 176 weekly flights from 13 Indian cities make Qatar a well connected destination. We are also rolling out Tawash, our online destination training in India.”
Qatar, the 11,000 square kilometer peninsula, boasts of 563 kilometer coast and 14,000 year Islamic history. 650,000 ethnic Indian population is actually double that of indigenous Qatari population (330,000) and makes-up a quarter of Qatar’s population.
Museums of Islamic Art, Traditional souqs, open art galleries displaying international art, The Pearl, a manmade island with modern shopping, dining, shopping and entertainment block. Many International festivals like Qatar Food Festival, Summer Festival,
70 percent of hotels in Qatar are of 4 and 5 star category. St. Regis Doha, built in Arabic Architecture, has a private beach with 336 rooms and 58 suites, all facing the sea. It’s situated close to Lusail, the future city being built to host 2022 FIFA world cup.
Sanal Issac, Sales Manage, Gulf Adventures, said: “We offer heritage and culture tours that include visit to the popular Souq Waqif, a safari that ends at the beach of the inland sea and to Al Shaqab equestrian centre that breeds Arabian horses.” The 18 year DMC’s packages include those for stopover tourists, most of who are from Australia. Khor Al Adaid is a unique natural wonder of Qatar where the inland sea waters of the Gulf encroach deep into the heart of the desert.
Ritz-Carlton Doha hosted the first big Indian wedding in Qatar in March. Akansha Malhotra, Sales Manager, Ritz-Carlton Doha, said: “Qatar Government is pro-active in tapping Indian wedding market. Prince of Qatar gifted a pearl necklace and a Rolex watch to the bride and groom respectively.” The hotel offers club rooms at an additional payment of just 250 Riyals and that includes full board meals at the club lounge and choice of alcohol from noon to midnight.
Khalid Al Jouni, Manager, Qatar International Adventures, said: “We offer all tourist services starting from meet and assist services at the airport and hotels at good rates. We have more than 15 tours and can tailor-make tours with special Indian food at our desert camp, drop and pick-up our guests at the night club and also organise Indian music.”
Qatar has 2000 plus hotel rooms and many new are coming-up. The oldest, 29 year old Radisson Blu Hotel Doha with recently renovated(in 2015) has 583 rooms and has 2 Indian restaurants among its 20 food and beverage outlets. Reasonably priced rooms come with free WiFi and complimentary shuttle bus service to airport. They also cater to short stopovers of few hours to a night or two at special rates.
Sheraton Grand, owned by the Qatari royal family is an iconic building spread on 71 acres of seafront in the commercial quarters of Doha. Its hallow atrium in the centre is unique and the hotel has the largest (33,000 sq.ft) MICE facility. It has two beaches, one natural and an artificial one and many sports facilities including 10 tennis courts. Deepali Bhujbal, Senior Account Manager-Corporate & Leisure, Sheraton Grand said: “Qatar is a very safe place, I have been living there since a year, sometimes drive home at late hours, have forgotten my mobile at a mall and have got it back from the shopkeeper the next day.’
Kayaking through mangroves and scuba diving are some of the rare activities offered by 365 Adventures, a travel company run by young professionals.
The Torch Doha is an interestingly architectured 5 star luxury hotel. It offers and ipad in each room, that can be used to choose lighting from 12 colours, depending on required moods.
FAL Travel Mart is a DMC mostly selling stopover packages of 3 and 4 nights. Manikantan A P, General Manager, FAL Travel Mart, said: “Desert safari with inland sea is popular with our clients. The Anantara hotel by the sea feels something like in Maldives. Business travellers from Korea and China are our main clients. Indian market is growing after free visa announcement.”
250,000 Indians visited Qatar in 2017, recording a 24 percent growth. 251181 Indian visitors since January this year is an indicator of the surge to this oil rich West Asian country.
Bhavesh Oza, Director, Blue Star Tours, said: “Qatar at just 3 hour 40 minute flying time can be a good short holiday destination, an alternative to Dubai, which most Indian travellers have already visited.” Four International carriers- Qatar airways, Air India, Indigo and Jet Airways connect a total of 176 flights between India and Qatar. Further connections to Europe make it a new stopover destination to explore.
Melissa from Dohabus said: “We operate hop-on-hop off services with 6 double deckers and two open single deckers on two popular routes. Our two 32 seat, custom made Monster buses are fun for desert rides besides our 7 land cruisers. We also have a sea line desert camp where we end the day’s tour and bring back guests by Dhow boats.”
Nelson Jos, Director, Travel Designer, said: “I heard that highest number of foreign visitors at FIFA world cup in Russia were Indians. We expect good footfalls at 2022 world cup in Qatar. Lusail city close to Doha will be hosting opening and closing ceremonies. Many international visitors come to study the modern city with new eco-friendly stadium being built here with totally concealed car parking.” Katara cultural village is a popular place to spend relaxed time with some cultural show and enjoy coffee and snacks at one of the many cafes.
Written by Anand & Madhura Katti
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