by Qatar has traditionally been known as a tourist destination for its beautiful beaches, stunning architecture and rich culture. However, in the last decade the country has been strategically investing and developing its MICE industry to promote Qatar as a top business events destination in the region. Let’s take a closer look at Qatar’s thriving MICE sector.
A Hub for Conferences and Exhibitions
Qatar has invested billions of dollars into developing world-class infrastructure to host large scale conferences, exhibitions and events. The flagship Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) located in the heart of Doha can accommodate over 26,000 delegates at a time. It features seven state-of-the-art halls along with meeting rooms of various sizes. In addition, facilities like Qatar Exhibition & Convention Centre (QECC), Katara Cultural Village and Lusail International Conferences & Events also provide modern spaces to organise events of all sizes.
Qatar is also emerging as the preferred destination in the region to host global exhibitions. ME2019 – a large scale engineering and construction event was successfully hosted at QECC in 2019, attracting over 125,000 visitors. Other major exhibitions regularly hosted in Qatar include Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition, Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition & Conference and Gulf Traffic. With its strategic location, world-class facilities and government support, Qatar is well positioned to attract more global exhibitions in the coming years.
Incentive Travel Opportunities
Qatar offers a wide variety of options to delight incentive groups and reward top performers. From luxury hotel accommodations to thrilling adventure activities, Qatar has it all. Popular incentive activities include desert safaris, dhow cruises, falconry experiences, visits to museums showcasing Qatar’s rich heritage and culture. In terms of F&B, fine dining at Qatari and international restaurants paired with Shisha on the corniche are always a hit with incentive groups.
Additionally, Qatar’s new leisure and theme destinations like Katara Cultural Village, simulation park Quest and Aqua Park provide unique experiences beyond the usual site seeing. The upcoming Lusail City and FIFA World Cup 2022 infrastructure developments will further enhance Qatar’s incentive travel offerings in the coming years. With visa on arrival for over 80 nationalities, a stable business environment and high safety standards, Qatar has become one of the preferred short haul incentive destinations.
Support from the Government
The robust growth of MICE events in Qatar industry would not have been possible without strong support and initiatives from the government. Visa policies have been relaxed to facilitate ease of travel for meetings and events. Qatar Tourism has been at the forefront in positioning the nation as a global hub for business tourism through digital campaigns and roadshows across key source markets.
As part of its National Vision 2030, the Government aims to develop Qatar as a commercial hub connecting East and West. To achieve this, ongoing investments are being made to expand exhibition space, upgrade transportation links, develop more hospitality assets and boost skills in the MICE workforce. Qatar Airways, the nation’s flag carrier, plays a pivotal role in seamlessly connecting Qatar to over 150 global destinations, significantly increasing Qatar’s accessibility.
With key projects like Lusail City, FIFA World Cup infrastructure and healthcare city on the horizon, it is estimated that Qatar’s MICE industry revenues will grow exponentially over the next decade. Once the pandemic situation stabilizes, industry experts are bullish about Qatar regaining its pre-COVID growth momentum in the meetings, incentives and events sector.
