Qatar Tourism forms alliances with Saudi companies

Marking World Tourism Day, celebrated by the United Nations in Saudi Arabia by the World Tourism Organization, Qatar Tourism was notably present in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this year's host city.

Their delegation engaged in extensive dialogues with regional tourism leaders about Qatar's tourism landscape advancements.
Qatar Tourism forged partnerships at the event by inking two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with prominent Saudi tour agencies, Al Matar and Al Mosafer. These MoUs aim to showcase Qatar as a prime destination for Saudi families and vacationers.

Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, Deputy Chairman of Qatar Tourism, remarked, "Qatar's presence at such a prestigious event involved numerous productive engagements with regional representatives. Qatar's drive to evolve its tourism sector is evident, and our strategy focuses on 15 key markets. These new partnerships symbolize our dedication to these markets and our vision for 2030 tourism objectives."

During the event, Qatar Tourism met with significant tourism figures from countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Jordan, Lebanon, Uzbekistan, Spain, China, and representatives from the UNWTO. These meetings witnessed participation from high-profile figures such as H E Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Saudi Arabia's Tourism Minister; Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of Saudi Tourism Authority; H E Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Turkiye's Culture and Tourism Minister; H E Makram Mustafa Al Qaisi, Jordan's Tourism and Antiquities Minister; H E Walid Nassar, Lebanon's Tourism Minister; Umid Shadiev, Uzbekistan's Chairman of the Tourism Committee; Rosa Ana Morillo Rodriguez, Spain's State Secretary for Industry, Trade and Tourism; and Ji Xiaodong, Chairman of China's Tourism Chamber.

The core of these dialogues revolved around streamlining visa processes, refining tourism regulations, synchronizing promotional activities, and strategizing to lure tourists and investors.

The MoUs with Al Matar and Al Mosafer spotlight Qatar's exceptional travel packages and tourism amenities through the agencies' online portals and physical locations. Both agencies aim to entice tourists to Qatar by highlighting its events, main attractions, shopping, and gastronomic delights and presenting comprehensive travel deals available throughout the year. An added emphasis will be on promoting the upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, complete with exclusive travel bundles.

Saudi Arabia remains a leading contributor to Qatar's international visitor count, with all GCC nations ranking among the top 10 sources. For GCC citizens, entry into Qatar is hassle-free due to the absence of visa necessities. The Hayya platform offers an entry permit option for GCC nationals' companions. Those traveling to Qatar via the Abu Samra land route can expedite their vehicle entry using the Hayya platform's pre-registration feature, ensuring a pleasant commencement to their Qatari visit.