2022 World Cup legacy debated at Qatar GM Debate

Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) dismissed any doubts over the legacy of its FIFA World Cup in 2022 at the inaugural Hotelier Middle East Qatar GM Debate.

Held at the Grand Hyatt Doha on Tuesday, head of marketing for QTA Cristina Mules, said in the keynote speech that Qatar could “look forward to a dynamic future for our nation and our people”.

“We will focus on five key areas, MICE, culture, sport, education and leisure and our goal is to increase tourism by 20% in the next five years,” she said.

Mules stated that the QTA had a further aim of getting tourism to contribute to Qatar's overall GDP.

“We are very proud of our vision and contribution towards a long term, sustainable development and promoting the country’s rich culture and heritage,” she added.

Viability director Guy Wilkinson’s presentation on the World Cup in 2022 outlined the enormous task ahead for Qatar, but he said it was “already well on its way to achieving its targets”.

Using Dubai’s hotel growth statistics as a comparative he said that Qatar’s plans were certainly “achievable” despite being “ambitious”.

In the following panel session, ‘World Cup 2022 – A Game Changer for the Industry?’, the panelists concurred that the event was well planned and steps were being taken to secure visitors to the region after the World Cup was over.

Starwood Hotels senior VP, regional director Middle East, Guido de Wilde commented: “I’m not worried, typically Qatar has always been a corporate destination and with the infrastructure, construction of the ports, nine stadiums being built — with all these projects on the way, automatically that will bring the traveller into this destinations, it’s a given”.

“From a leisure perspective, Qatar is starting to get more Saudis and western Asians, and there’s the GCC market that is growing.”

Developments in home-grown entertainment options, mega projects such as The Pearl, an expanding middle class and the growth of Qatar Airways were also cited as reasons why the legacy of the World Cup would be a positive one.

For more coverage of the debates and presentations at the Qatar GM Debate, please keep checking the website and the next issue of Hotelier Middle East.