Qatar's World Cup win sparks tourism interest

Qatar is already seeing new interest in the destination from prospective tourists, off the back of its winning bid to host the 2022 football World Cup, according to an official at its tourism authority.

Mohammed Al Ansari, head of Licensing & Classification Tourism Activities, Qatar Tourism Authority said the World Cup bid win was a "bonus" for tourism to Qatar.

“The Qatar 2022 announcement is not just a wonderful opportunity for the country, but also a bonus for the tourism industry. Already we are seeing new interest in Qatar as a destination," he confirmed

Al Ansari added that currently 90% of visitors to Qatar come for business reasons, but with the World Cup announcement, the country will now be pitching for a new segment of visitors interested in leisure “culture and sporting events.”

Rapid expansion is currently underway in Qatar’s tourism sector with more than 120 hotels under construction, two state-of-the-art convention and exhibition centres and the new Doha International Airport which is scheduled to open in 2012.