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CATHERINE W GICHUKI
DOHA
PRIME Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al Thani on Wednesday said that tourism is a priority sector for Qatar, which will help the country diversify its economy and achieve sustainable growth.
Speaking at a ceremony held at Doha Sheraton Hotel to mark the World Tourism Day under the theme 'Sustainable Tourism a Tool for Development', the PM said in the last two decades, the tourism industry has become one of the most important engines for growth and a tool for sustainable development in the world.
The event was attended by several high-profile dignitaries and officials of local and international tourism institutions and associations.
The PM added,"This is no longer a matter of availability or available options or a luxury. It is one of the priorities in order to achieve comprehensive development, diversify national economy, to create job opportunities, in addition to creating bridges between different cultures and the dissemination of values of tolerance and openness."
"We have undertaken a number of initiatives such as introducing free of charge transit visas for 96 hours for people of all nationalities and provision for e-visa as well as exemption of citizens of 80 countries from entry visa requirements with plans to add other countries in the future. An e-notification system has also been introduced for people having residency or visa of the United States, the United Kingdom, Schengen countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the GCC nations," the PM said.
He, however, added that the tourism sector cannot be developed without developing the capabilities of all the efforts, all the sectors that are relevant to this sector.
"And also we have had directive that entail that we should have a comprehensive review of all the strategies that have been implemented so far in order to meet the needs of Qatar and to preserve the identity of the State," he said.
The PM added,"We do wish to open new markets such as China, India and Russia while reinforcing our presence in Europe, America and Asia. We also wish to diversify the different tourism products and give new opportunities to the private sector."
He said that in the coming months, the sector's governance will be reorganised around a new National Tourism Council that is empowered to focus and integrate the efforts of key stakeholders and facilitators in ways that will provide clarity, direction, and momentum for the tourism sector's improvement and growth.
The PM honoured the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, Taleb Rifai, on the occasion of the end of his tenure in the organisation.
