EP Perspective September 2016

INTERNATIONAL: QATAR
THE EMERGING PLAYER
EP looks at the ongoing development taking place in Qatar helping
the country emerge as a key player in the global hospitality market
The hospitality sector in Qatar is thriving with many arguing
the country is emerging as a major player in the hospitality and
franchise investment market in the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC). This is due in part to the massive build-up required for the
2022 FIFA World Cup, with the markets for food and beverage,
suppliers and hotel construction all peaking.
For many in Qatar, winning the bid for the FIFA World Cup was
an honour not just for the country, but for the region. As it prepares
itself to welcome a global audience for one of the most widelyattended
events in the world, the infrastructure must go through a
complete change. To cater for this global audience, the building and
development of existing facilities is taking place. They want to have
world-class facilities with quality service.
The last few years have seen a swift expansion in the number
of hotels and other tourism facilities in Qatar, as the government
has invested in transforming the country into a luxury, sports and
business destination. Through the Qatar National Tourism Sector
Strategy 2030, Qatar has adopted a comprehensive approach to
addressing sustainability in all aspects of the tourism industry, with
a special focus on creating a thriving hospitality sector. More than
40 billion USD of investments are planned over the next 15 years.
Qatar National Vision 2030 is taking place at the same time.
The aim is to “transform Qatar into an advanced society capable
of achieving sustainable development” by 2030. The plan’s
development goals are divided into four central pillars: economic,
social, human and environmental development. The government
seeks to meet the goals by implementing strategies to address the
challenges presented in human development reports.
The upcoming Hospitality Qatar exhibition in October 2016
is designed to build a strong platform for local, regional and
international hospitality companies and bring together the sector
from around the region. Alongside this they also want to allow
visitors to network and build business opportunities. The country
“THE GOVERNMENT HAS INVESTED
IN TRANSFORMING THE COUNTRY
INTO A LUXURY, SPORTS AND
BUSINESS DESTINATION”
is continuing to expand and suppliers from around the world are
choosing Qatar as a go-to point to participate in the local market
boom taking place. Many hotels are under construction and the hope
is that guests will stay for longer periods and not just for the
upcoming sporting events. The hospitality sector is witnessing
healthy growth at a time when finances in other sectors are seriously
stretched and even compromised. As it prepares itself for an influx of
tourists, the sector and the infrastructure in general is preparing well,
and with it comes optimism across all industries.
epmagazine.co.uk | 17