(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Raynald C Rivera | The Peninsula
With efforts to diversify Qatar's source markets, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has expressed optimism on an increase in visitor arrivals during the second edition of Shop Qatar, despite the current blockade.
'We expect rise in visitor arrivals to Qatar specifically from different markets worldwide, and with the participation of 13 malls we hope the economic impact will be bigger, said Mashal Shahbik, Director of Festivals & Tourism Events at QTA, in response to a question during the press conference yesterday at Al Hazm Mall.
With 10 participating malls, the inaugural edition of Shop Qatar saw 16.8 percent increase in visitors compared to the same period in 2016 and QR1.06bn in economic value.
Despite the opening of new hotels, occupancy rate stood at 70.5 percent during the festival period. The worth of coupons exchanged totalled QR48.3m and the number of visitors to Shop Qatar website was 267,436.
'We achieved our goals during the first edition of Shop Qatar with the rise of tourist arrivals and the festival's impact to the economy. This year we put expectations in different numbers because of a wider international market, not only the Gulf market which is reflected in our preparations for the different events in which we stimulate different cultures, explained Shahbik.
Rashed Al Qurese, Chief Marketing and Promotion Officer at QTA, said, 'After the inaugural edition's resounding success earlier this year, the second edition leverages the country's recent visitor entry measures which have made Qatar the region's most welcoming country, with entry visas waived for citizens of 80 nationalities and an extended 96-hour transit visa.
Al Qurese said Shop Qatar 2018 will be the first of many projects lined up next year which support QTA's efforts to diversify source markets and enrich the annual calendar of tourist events.
'In addition to diversifying our tourism products, Shop Qatar 2018 is designed to appeal to an international audience, bolstering its position as a destination that welcomes the world, he said.
He added: 'And in diversifying Qatar's visitor source markets, China, Russia, India and Germany are at the forefront of our target markets which will contribute to increasing visitor arrivals and in developing the tourism products to suit the needs of visitors from those countries, support the growth and development of our tourism sector.
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