The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has called on Qatari investors to explore the possibility of establishing more travel and tourism offices in the country, indicating that there is more scope for such facilities outside Doha and its suburbs.
Data released by the Ministry shows that the highest number of travel and tourism offices are based in Al Rayyan, with 32 licence holders. Doha has 11 active business licences in the sector, Umm Salal six, Al Wakrah five and Al Khor and Dakhira two.
Of the active businesses in the travel and tourism industry, travel offices top the list with 332 facilities, followed by tourism with 237 offices.
Offices conducting local tourism are listed among the most inactive with 14 offices and three offices dealing in land tourism.
Data about the number of people served per office indicate that Al Khor and Dakira are the least served, geographically, with 101,015 people per office.
Each office in Doha serves 86,950 people and that in Al Wakra 59,807 people. Every office in Umm Salal and Al Rayyan serve 15,139 and 18,928 people, respectively.
The Ministry said that 91 percent of the holders of licenes in travel and tourism are men and 57 percent of them are aged above 45 years.
To establish a new travel agency investors need to develop a work plan based on economic feasibility and determine the value of investment, the Ministry said in an advisory issued to potential investors.
“As your customers are families, individuals, retired persons, students, tourist groups, and businessmen, you need to approach them through online monthly bulletin, social media and create database for the customers,” said the Ministry.
Citing the latest global statistical data on travel and tourism, the Ministry said that 57 percent of the bookings are being done through the internet and 47 percent of the searches are being made on smart phones. Industry sources say that most of the business is concentrated in Doha, although some travel and tour operators have opened small offices in areas outside the city but have not found them very successful.
“Some travel agents have small offices outside Doha. Outside Doha there is no need for several travel agents to open offices, one or two offices can be helpful. When there are more offices, the number of customers get divided and it causes loss in business. I know there are some who opened offices outside Doha and closed due to lack of business,” said a senior official of a Doha-based travel agency.
