Qatar launches first tourism start-up incubator

Qatar Business Incubation Centre (QBIC) in collaboration with Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) officially launches ‘QBIC Tourism’ specialised incubator for tourism start-ups.

QBIC Tourism is an incubator enabling entrepreneurs to develop products and services that enhance the Qatar tourism experience, by providing business development tools and access to guidance from QTA decision-makers.

QBIC chairman and QDB CEO Abdulaziz Al Khalifa said: “A central tenet for QBIC is to be continually strengthening our start-up culture in Qatar, not only by providing the support and space that every business needs, but by partnering for specific excellence and cutting-edge opportunity within prominent industries – the new launch of QBIC Tourism by QBIC in partnership with QTA is a superb example of this principle in action.”

Khalifa added: “We believe that backing start-ups and scale-ups now will help produce a mature and sustainable tourism sector in the near and medium term.”

During incubation, tourism entrepreneurs can develop their business ideas within four main sectors of tourism activity, namely: business events, urban and family entertainment, sports and recreation, and culture and heritage products.

The event took place at the Head Office of QBIC, one of the largest mixed-use business incubators in the MENA region, and was attended by QTA chief tourism development officer Hassan Al Ibrahim.