Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and 11 industry partners are currently at IMEX Frankfurt this week to showcase the country’s full range of hotels, state-of-the art venues, tour operators and event management companies to strengthen ties with industry stakeholders and promote Qatar as an attractive business event destination in the region.

Since Qatar’s last participation in IMEX, the country has introduced visa policy changes that made it easier to visit and the most open country in the GCC region. The country also saw the launch of the Next Chapter of its National Tourism Sector Strategy which charts a pathway to more diverse tourism products and enhanced visitor experience. The strategy prioritises Business Events as a major contributor to visitor arrivals.

Last year, the Qatar delegation held 89 meetings at IMEX and is looking to boost that figure this year.

Ahmed Al Obaidli, Director of Exhibitions at QTA, said that their focus at IMEX Frankfurt this year is to create new ties with the MICE industry, and build on existing ones.

Since the launch of the Next Chapter in September last year, the sector has taken steady steps to grow and accelerate the development of its offerings across the leisure and business tourism spectrums, giving international business visitors ample opportunity to enjoy authentic tourism experiences, both inside and beyond the venue walls.’

International Business Events 

Qatar will be hosting IATA’s 31st Annual Ground Handling Conference and the First Middle East Edition of the International Conference for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Regional Development (ICEIRD) later this year. The country will also host the AICR Annual Congress and the Clefs d’Or International Congress, both in 2021.

As part of its commitment to further strengthen ties in the international association meetings industry, QTA has also recently partnered with International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) to become a globally-recognised Association Relations Partner (ARP).

QTA is already leveraging its new status with ICCA and has set plans to host the ICCA Qatar International Meetings Expert Session on 17-18 September in Doha. The two-day session will provide attendees a unique opportunity to learn from leading experts in the international meetings industry and is specially designed for meetings industry suppliers and associations in Qatar and the Middle East.

Business Events is a key sub-sector of Qatar’s tourism industry, with more than 150 business events taking place in Qatar annually. The country has already invested heavily in infrastructure development to boost the business events industry, such as the 300-km Doha Metro project and a large number of hotels coming online, all of which will substantially enhance Qatar’s ability to host world-class events.

IMEX Participation

Qatar’s 127 square metre pavilion at IMEX Frankfurt is showcasing the country’s expanding business event options. The Qatar delegation includes representatives from the following tourism sector partners:

  • Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC)
  • Marriott Marquis
  • Middle East Adventures
  • Mondrian Doha – Morgans Hotel Group
  • Qatar International Adventures
  • QMICE
  • Sharq Village and Spa
  • Sheraton Grand Doha Resort and Convention Hotel
  • The Ritz-Carlton, Doha
  • The Torch Doha
  • W Doha Hotel

For updates and more information about QTA, visit their website at visitqatar.qa