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Qatar Will Invest $20 Billion in Tourism Within Next 11 Years

Hotels in Qatar may be geared up greatly in next 11 years as the country’s government has decided to invest as much as US$20 billion into the development of this industry in the country. Qatar is very rich in gas and has the biggest per-capita in the world. However, the government doesn’t consider gas reserves as the only source of income and wants to make its hotel sector more attractive and profitable. Qatar will also host 2022 Soccer World Cup, so this fact may attract many visitors to it.

As Ahmed Abdullah Al-Nuaimi, the chairman of the Qatar Tourism Authority, told in his interview to Reuters, hotels in Qatar will get the majority of investments, but the government also plans to spend money for parks and entertainment centers.

At the moment the total number of guestrooms in Qatar accommodations estimates 10,000. This year over 5,000 guestrooms will be added. The country plans to have as much as 30,000 guestrooms by 2013 and plans to add additional 5,000 guestrooms each year until 2022.

Recently many famous hoteliers have paid attention on Qatar. New 4-star and 5-star hotels, and serviced apartments under such famous brands as Nikki Beach Hotel or Four Seasons start appearing in the country. According to Al-Nuaimi, in future all famous hotel companies will have at least one hotel in Doha.

Among other projects financed by the government is City Centre – the project, which total cost estimates $2 billion. On the territory of the complex will be located 6 hotels by such famous brands as Rotana and Shangri La. Another large-scale building is Doha’s cruise ship terminal (total cost $5.5 billion) that will be able to serve 3 cruise ships at a time.

All projects will be funded directly from Qatar’s budget – starting from 2011 and up to 2016 40% of the country’s budget will be dedicated infrastructure projects.

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