Q Life Magazine Q Magazine (US) June 2017 | Page 24
Qatar and the US |
| Issue 3
How Qatar Tourism
Authority is Establishing
Qatar as a Global
Tourist Destination
led by award-winning New York Times’ journalists.
Nothing quite demonstrates the pursuit of a knowledge-
based economy like “Art for Tomorrow,” which this year
featured The New York Times Company Chairman of
the Board, Arthur Sulzberger Jr., as well as renowned
artists and journalists, including The New York Times’
Roger Cohen.
| Museum of Islamic Art
Over the past decade, Qatar’s tourism industry has developed into one of the country’s burgeoning
trademarks and has an increasingly significant part to play in the Qatari economy.
O
ver the past decade, Qatar’s tourism industry has
developed into one of the country’s burgeoning
trademarks and has an increasingly significant part to
play in the Qatari economy. Commercial Bank Qatar Masters golf tournament,
the Qatar ExxonMobil Tennis Open, the Qatar
International Rally (motor sport), and the Commercial
Bank Grand Prix of Qatar (Moto GP).
Whether it’s relaxing on one of the country’s sparkling
beaches, witnessing the thrill of an international sporting
event, or experiencing magnificent displays of art and
culture, travelers are beginning to see Qatar as a center
of adventure. Tourism will be vital in Qatar’s efforts to
diversify an economy that previously has been driven
primarily by oil and natural gas revenues. In recent years, the Qatar Masters has featured famed
American golfers such as John Daly and Ben Curtis,
while participants in the Qatar ExxonMobil Tennis
Open have included American legends Serena and
Venus Williams. Doha is fast developing a reputation as
the sporting capital of the Middle East.
Qatar has hosted some of the world’s premier
international sporting events. In addition to the
2011 AFC Asian Cup and 2015 World Handball
Championships, Qatar will also host the prestigious
FIFA World Cup in 2022, bringing hundreds of
thousands of visitors from around the world to the Gulf
peninsula. Additionally, Qatar hosts a number of annual
sporting events popular with Americans, including the
Also located in Qatar is the Zubarah Fort and
surrounding 60-hectare archaeological works, a
UNESCO-recognized heritage site that is one of the
most extensive and best preserved examples of an 18th-
19th century settlement in the region. Moreover, Doha’s
Museum of Islamic Art displays some of the finest art
and artifacts from across the Islamic world, earning it
recognition among the world’s top cultural institutions.
To accommodate an influx of visitors in the coming years,
Qatar has placed a strong emphasis on infrastructure
development. Qatar is preparing for a massive wave of
tourists in the coming years, and world travelers will
surely not be disappointed upon arrival.
| Zubarah Fort
But sports are just the beginning in Qatar’s evolution
into a rich cultural destination. Since 2015, Doha has
hosted the annual New York Times “Art for Tomorrow”
conference, which attracts over 200 world-renowned art
and cultural influencers from more than 30 countries.
The conference invites those with knowledge from
all across the globe, and aims to investigate the issues
that occupy the territory between art and public life,
featuring interviews and solution-oriented discussions
| Katara cultural village, Doha
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