A Conversation with Qatar’s Director of Tourism

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is officially underway, bringing the eyes of the world to the desert nation. As Qatar welcomes visitors, including family travelers, from around the world, Berthold Trenkel, COO, Qatar Tourism, shared his thoughts on the current state and future expectations of tourism for the country.

“This is the Middle East’s very first FIFA World Cup,” Trenkel said. “And this fact alone sets the 2022 tournament apart. It will be the first-ever FIFA World Cup that comes with Middle Eastern flavour, consisting of a well-preserved culture and heritage, delectable cuisine and countless unique sites to witness and experience first-hand.”

Trenkel shared news of more than 100 hotels and hotel apartments under construction, opening just in time for the World Cup to provide accommodations for the influx of visitors to the country. He also revealed a host of unique developments such as the West Bay North Beach Project, providing 1.5 kilometers of beach broken into three sections, including a no-frills public beach and a high-end, family-oriented beach. The development of Lusail City area encompasses 38,000 square meters and features 22 hotels, golf courses and an amusement park.

Looking forward, tourism to this fascinating nation expects to grow exponentially. “The work will continue for us after the World Cup as we have an ambitious strategy to boost the number of inbound visitors to Qatar to more than six million a year by 2030, which would make Qatar the fastest growing destination in the Middle East,” said Trenkel. “The openings ahead of the World Cup are just the beginning, and we look forward to continuing to provide travelers to Qatar with an unparalleled experience in the years to come.”

Trenkel shared many exciting tourist developments the country prepares to welcome in the future. “We will continue to open new hotels and attractions,” he said. “For example, Raffles Doha and Fairmont Doha, The Ned Doha, Palais Vendôme, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Doha and Corniche Park Towers in West Bay.”

It is Trenkel’s hope visitors to Qatar will experience firsthand the culture and spirit of the country. “We hope all visitors,” he said, “including those coming for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, enjoy the warm welcome they will receive from Qatar’s friendly locals. We also want them to feel relaxed and looked after at our world-class hotels, resorts and restaurants and to soak up our stunning beaches, rich culture and bustling atmosphere.”

“Qatar is constantly evolving,” he continued, “which has been demonstrated over the last couple years with new stadiums and new infrastructure designed to improve the tourism experience, including new hotels, theme parks, restaurants, shops and major leisure projects. At Qatar Tourism, we put guests at the heart of everything we develop to ensure a safe, exciting and memorable experience.”

With these recent and upcoming developments in Qatar’s tourism industry, travelers have plenty of reasons to discover the beauty, culture and mystique of Qatar.