A World Cup... what now?
While many were unable to place Qatar on a map until a few months ago, the 2022 FIFA World Cup has put its host country in the spotlight.
Despite the lively controversy over its attribution, the number of workers who died on the construction sites, its environmental impact and respect for human rights, the event was a success with nearly 1.4 million visitors welcomed during the four weeks of the competition.
In order not to be forgotten on the international scene, the country, which is currently making headlines with the "Qatargate", is relying in particular on tourism to carve out a place for itself among the other major destinations in the Middle East, such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Oman.
Read alsoWorld Cup: a positive diplomatic record, but tarnished by the "Qatargate"
The emirate intends to take advantage of its strategic geographical location, halfway between Europe and Asia.
And it relies on one of the jewels of its
"soft power"
, Qatar Airways, crowned for the seventh time "best airline in the world" according to the Skytrax ranking.
Its CEO Akbar Al-Baker, also head of the Qatar Tourism Board, recently set himself the goal of reaching 40 million travelers in 2023 at Hamad International Airport in Doha, against 35.7 million. passengers in 2022.
This last November inaugurated a vast extension increasing its reception capacities from 40 to 58 million passengers per year.
The second phase of expansion, launched a few days ago, will eventually increase this figure to 70 million, i.e., by comparison, the number of passengers at Paris-Charles de Gaulle or Amsterdam-Schiphol airport in 2019 (pre-Covid).
Read alsoWhat to do in Doha in two days?
Our guide in the capital of Qatar, after the euphoria of the World Cup
transit country
The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Doha reopened in October 2022 after renovations.
Karim JAAFAR / AFP
More visitors in transit also means more tourists likely to leave the airport for an extended stopover.
As an incentive, Qatar Airways offers very advantageous
stop-over
packages on its site with nights in a four-star hotel from 14 dollars (13 €) or in a five-star hotel from 20 dollars (19 € ).
“
More than 80% of the world's population lives within a six-hour flight of Qatar, which makes it an ideal destination to turn a stopover into a mini-break.
Short distances between major tourist attractions allow visitors to make the most of their time
“, underlines Berthold Trenkel, director of operations of Qatar Tourism.
National Museum of Qatar, Museum of Islamic Art, traditional market of Souq Waqif, inland sea in the middle of the desert... So many places to visit during a stopover of one or two days.
"
By betting on the stop-over, Qatar could, in the long term, experience the same destiny as a small country like
Singapore
, which first became known as a transit country before becoming a destination in its own right.
, says Guillaume Linton, CEO of Asia, a travel agency specializing in Asia.
While requests for overnight stays in Qatar are marginal, more and more of our customers are choosing to stop there for a night or two before continuing on to their final destination.
It's a way of treating yourself to a trip within a trip.
»
Read alsoHow to behave in Qatar and what gestures to avoid?
Our advice if you visit the emirate
Many events in 2023
In the alleys of Souq Waqif, the traditional market of Doha.
OZAN KOSE / AFP
After welcoming 2.5 million tourists in 2022 and returning to pre-Covid attendance levels last November, the emirate - which owns the PSG football club through its holding company QSI - is aiming for 6 million tourists per year by 2030. An ambitious objective given the small population of the country (2.7 million inhabitants) which dreams of becoming a new cultural and culinary destination.
“
Unlike a Dubai geared more towards seaside tourism, Qatar seeks to distinguish itself with its cultural events and its top-of-the-range gastronomic offer.
Visitors can take advantage of starred restaurants or luxury hotels at very affordable prices
,” explains Guillaume Linton.
Many events are expected in 2023 as evidenced by the calendar published by Visit Qatar.
The country hopes to attract 30,000 visitors to the Doha Jewelry and Watch Expo from Feb. 20-25.
To prolong the atmosphere of the World Cup, the World of Football exhibition is being held until April 1 at the Olympic and Sports Museum 3-2-1.
Also until April 1, the Msheireb Downtown Doha pays tribute to fashion designer Valentino Garavani, founder of the Valentino house, through a major exhibition, the first of its kind in the Middle East.
Finally, we will have to wait until early 2024 to walk the aisles of the Qatar Auto Museum, a space of 30,000 square meters which will explore the automobile from every angle and through the ages: the past, the present and above all the future.
