QTA’s Tourism Information Centre at the Abu Samra crossing.
With the influx of visitors attending festivals across the country, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has opened several tourism information centres and kiosks at the various ports of entry to Qatar.
Qatar is witnessing visitors arriving in large numbers as several festivals are simultaneously taking place including Shop Qatar, Souq Waqif Spring Festival and Souq Al Wakrah Spring Festival which are targeting tourists from neighbouring countries.
QTA’s Tourism Information Centre at the Abu Samra crossing caters to those arriving to Qatar through its border with Saudi Arabia, providing visitors detailed information on visiting Qatar including on the ongoing events and festivals they can enjoy throughout their stay. In addition, Qatar International Adventures, Regency Travel & Tours and Katara Hospitality have representatives on hand to help facilitate visitors’ stays, with services ranging from accommodation reservations to outdoor excursions.
Another QTA kiosk has opened in the transit area of Hamad International Airport (HIA), offering an opportunity to the 30m travellers passing through HIA to experience Qatar virtually through a video telescope showing 360-degree videos of the destination. It also hosts a photo booth, which visitors can use to eternalise their memories of Qatar, and visitor brochures available in six languages. The opening of the kiosk follows the recent introduction of a free transit visa, which allows passengers of all nationalities with a minimum transit time of five hours at HIA to stay in Qatar for up to four days.
An information desk has also been established at Doha Port, giving cruise visitors access to information about Qatar’s must-see tourism landmarks immediately after they disembark. This development comes as Qatar welcomes its busiest-ever cruise season, with tens of thousands of passengers arriving throughout this season.
According to Rashed Al Qurese, QTA’s Chief Marketing and Promotion Officer, the development of the information centers came as a result of a thorough research process, in which QTA mapped out tourists’ experiences from the time they plan a trip to the country, through to their bookings and arrival in Qatar. Research has shown that many GCC visitors prefer to make hotel reservations and trip plans upon arrival, which encouraged QTA to set up a permanent information centre at the Abu Samra crossing.
“It is our pleasure to offer all visitors a taste of the traditional hospitality that Qatar is renowned for, and to create a welcoming experience for them from the moment they arrive. We hope these information centres will contribute to enhancing our visitors’ experience, and we are grateful for the collaborative spirit shown by our various private sector partners and government agencies to make these installations possible,” said Al Qurese.
He added that visitors can also find information through the tourism call centre, which can be reached at +974 4406 9921 and provides up-to-date information about events and all tourists need to know about visiting Qatar.
QTA also plans to set up temporary information kiosks during specific tourism festivals and events to provide event-specific information to visitors.
