From 21st November to 18th December 2022, the FIFA Football World Cup will be hosted in Qatar and will provide key opportunities for the local tourism industry.
A Tourism & Sports Hub
By hosting such a huge event and by developing and enhancing the existing infrastructure, Qatar can firmly establish itself as a global hub for tourism and sports. This will boost the local economy too; according to forecasts, tourism and travel are expected to contribute approximately QR 200bn. to the nation’s GDP in 2028.
An Increase in Visitors
Because of the FIFA World Cup’s popularity, it’s expected to draw over a million tourists and visitors to Qatar. To meet the demand of this surge in arrivals, the government is developing various resorts as well. Russia who hosted the last World Cup in 2018 saw a notable increase in tourists the year after and Qatar can expect the same.
Highlighting Other Attractions
This event provides the perfect opportunity for Qatar to showcase its many other attractions especially in the capital; travellers can enjoy hotel deals in Doha at properties within easy reach of the World Cup stadiums as well as key sites like the Souq Waqif, Museum of Islamic Art, Katara Beach and Doha Corniche.
Change of Perception
This will be the first time that the FIFA World Cup is being hosted in the Middle East; apart from boosting sports in general, this can help to play a pivotal role in changing any negative stereotypes or mindsets people have about the region. This, in turn, will lead to growth in the tourism sector of Qatar even once the tournament ends.