In an effort to augment the emergent tourism scenario of Doha, Qatar Airways will host the annual conference of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in early 2004. Revealed Qatar Airways’ chief executive officer, Akbar Al Baker, “ The event is our effort to promote tourism in the country and package it as a prime destination. Apart from the annual conference, the executive committee meeting will also be held in Qatar.”

Al Baker further added that, “To be able to host the 2004 annual conference of the WTTC in Doha is a huge coup for Qatar. The focus will be on ’International Tourism’. We have ensured that these key tourism decision makers will get first hand knowledge of Qatar and the opportunities that Qatar represents to the tourism industry. We are going to use this opportunity to show the world’s tourism operators the Arabic hospitality. This will also be the ideal opportunity to establish lasting relationships with members of this key organisation, so, we can position the destination to take advantage of future tourism growth.”

While dates for the annual conference are yet to be confirmed, the expected delegate count would be anywhere between 600-1,000 people. On asked whether the destination can cater to the huge delegation, Al Baker replied, “There is no need to reduce capacity, we have the capacity and can certainly cater to the requisite demands. Besides, this event will strongly put Qatar on the global map.”