Chief Tourism Marketing and Promotion Officer at Qatar Tourism Abdulaziz Al Mawlawi said that Qatar achieved significant success during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, welcoming fans from around the world by connecting Doha to over 150 global destinations through the renowned Hamad International Airport, which has received numerous international awards.
He stated that Qatar and its tourist regions will be well-prepared to welcome fans during the AFC Asian Cup, adding that there will be various events, festivals, and exhibitions taking place coinciding with the tournament.
Al Mawlawi highlighted that over 50 hotels and resorts were opened in Qatar in 2022, and more are scheduled to open in the near future to provide diverse accommodation options for visitors attending the matches.
Regarding entry into Qatar, he clarified that it would not be linked to match tickets and stadium entry, as was the case during the FIFA World Cup, explaining that the “Hayya” card would be one of the means of entry, but it wou
ld not be tied to ticket purchases.
He pointed out that nationals from 95 countries will receive a visa upon arrival in Qatar, while others will need to apply for a visa in advance. He emphasized that there would be a wide range of accommodation options offered by Qatar Tourism and the LOC, in coordination with the participating teams’ federations and the AFC.
Regarding the presence of a fixed fan festival as seen during the FIFA World Cup, Al Mawlawi stated that the FIFA Fan Fest was one of the FIFA requirements during the World Cup, but there will not be a fixed festival, but opportunities will be available to activate various tourist areas in Qatar as gathering places for fans, adding that Waqif Souq was not one of the locations that hosted a fixed festival, yet it had a significant presence in terms of fan attendance, especially outside the match schedules.
He emphasized that extensive efforts were underway to provide an exceptional tourism experience for fans visiting the country during the AFC Asian
Cup, similar to what was achieved during the FIFA World Cup, with a commitment to achieving their goals.
Source: Qatar News Agency