Qatar to invest $17 billion in tourism

Qatar is set to invest an estimated US $17 billionn on tourism-related infrastructure projects overseen by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) in the next five years.

The volume of investment is increasing at an accelerated pace as Qatar plans to build more than 60,000 new hotel rooms in time for the country's hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

With at least 19 hotels and around 5,544 hotel rooms currently under construction and in the planning stage, Qatar currently has the third largest pipeline of hotels in the region. In this year alone, more than 2,100 rooms are expected to enter the Qatar market.

Specialised expertise in touism projects is seen as being crucial in enhancing the business potential of engineering and construction companies looking to capitalise on the real estate and construction boom in Qatar, according to Drake & Scull International PJSC (DSI), a regional specialist in integrated design, engineering and construction.

The company now sees the hospitality industry as a new key growth catalyst that will boost the demand for specialised expertise in mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP), civil contracting, rail as well as water and power projects.

DSI Chief Executive Khaldoun Tabari explains that tourims "in Qatar will continue to become more vibrant and lucrative in the future as Qatar positions itself as a major tourist, business and lifestyle destination, and an ideal venue for international expositions, sporting championships and other high-profile events. The construction of key hospitality amenities is therefore crucial in realising Qatar's vision to be a world-class host."

Image: Qatar's Museum of Islamic Arts (right) on the Doha waterfront.

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