Tourism sector benefits from new COVID-19 protocols & visa regime

AS Qatar relaxes its COVID-19 restrictions and opened business and on-arrival visas for tourists, Qatar residents’ families, and travel and tour operators have seized the opportunity to announce new tour packages to many countries.

Tour operators believe the relaxation of the medical protocol requirements and opening of visas for many countries will bring in large numbers of business tourists and transit passengers to Europe and countries in the Gulf region.

Exploring the opportunities provided by the upcoming Eid Al-Adha and school holidays, tour operators in Doha have already announced new packages to India, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia and the Maldives.

Speaking to Qatar Tribune, Managing Director of Fal Travel Mart AP Manikantan said, “Our special packages to Georgia announced immediately after Qatar unveiled new COVID-19 protocol has received wide acceptance and positive response from the public. Now, we are working on new packages to other destinations.”

Many Indian expatriates have opted for special trips to Turkey and Georgia on onward journey to India or on the way back to Qatar.

“Better connectivity offered by Qatar Airways to these countries has made our job easy. A large number of expatriates who have been held down in Qatar by the pandemic are now going for long vacation to explore the new situation for refreshment,” Manikantan told Qatar Tribune.

He said the relaxation in COVID-19 medical protocols and opening of tourist and on-arrival visas would largely benefit the tourism sector of the country.

“Now, we are getting regular bookings from Indians who want to visit Qatar for business and various other purposes as well as transit passengers who are travelling to neighbouring countries,” a senior staff at a 4-star hotel in Doha said.

Many investors who are eager to explore business opportunities associated with the upcoming FIFA 2022 see Qatar as one of the safest countries in the region as it records less COVID-19 positive cases and boasts better medical facilities.