Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) staged spectacular celebrations for Qatar National Day

Based on the existing collaboration and partnership between the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and National Day organizing  Committee and as Platinum Sponsor for QND, QTA organized the largest ever celebrations for QND this year. Traditional Qatari hospitality welcomed all visitors and arrivals to Qatar at both the border posts and at Doha International Airport.  QTA also staged a massive competition for the best hotel front for QND, involving all hotels in Qatar. The winning hotel is to receive a substantial prize of QR 30,000 for its efforts to enhance the occasion and the runner up a prize worth QR 20,000. 

Chairman of QTA, HE Mr Issa Mohannadi, said: “Qatar National Day is an opportunity for all to recognise and celebrate the actions of Qatar's forefathers who created a unified nation. The day underlines the identity and history of the country as well as embodying its ideals and aspirations. At QTA we planned to make this year’s celebrations the best ever by reaching out to every visitor and tourist coming to Qatar with gifts and flags as well as warm Arabic hospitality. We wanted them to appreciate Qatar's heritage at its finest, and encourage pride in Qatar by all who live and work here.”

He added: “QTA’s role is to take the lead in events and celebrations that take place in Qatar and for this year’s QND we staged a hotel competition to highlight Qatar’s iconic building designs and contemporary architecture.  Hotels were invited to take part to lend stylish elegance to the occasion and enhance the mood of celebration amongst visitors and residents.” 

QTA had many major activities planned for this year’s QND. At Doha International Airport, QTA organized a special tourism stand at Airport Arrivals where National flags and pins with the QND logo and other promotional items were distributed by volunteers, appointed by QTA, to everyone arriving in Doha on the day.  A traditional Qatari tent, offered traditional Arabic coffee and dates reflected the country’s warm hospitality and allowed guests to taste Qatari life. 

QTA also participated in Darb Saai at its tent with traditional Arabic coffee and dates on offer to reflect the country’s heritage.  Children painted a special mural to portray their ideal image of Qatar 2030 and a special corner was prepared depicting Qatari dress and jewelry for girls and boys’ customary attire with swords as well as falconry for visitors to take photos as reminders of the occasion. 

The Abo Samra Border Post was decorated by QTA with the QND theme, and QTA appointed volunteers there as well to distribute Qatari flags, pins and promotional items to people entering Qatar via this post. 

QTA teamed up with the Book Exhibition organizers and those working at the Book Fair during QND by wearing themed scarves and pins with the QND logo. QTA also collaborated with the Book Fair organizers to screen videos and documentaries about Qatar, and distributed tourism booklets and leaflets as souvenirs. 

All the hotels in Doha were sent reminders of the importance of participating in the QND and promoting Qatari hospitality, by inviting all guests and visitors to sample conventional Arabic coffee and dates.  

Hotels were also invited to fly the Qatari Flag in front of their hotels and distribute Qatari Flags inside their hotels in visible areas to tourists.  Hotel staff wore QND pins for the occasion, and female staff wore Al Nashel Thob.  White and maroon balloons were displayed in hotel entrances and reception areas and traditional Qatari food and dishes were put on main course menus for the day.  Hotels added Al Rayyan TV to the channel listings in hotel rooms for a special short movie about Qatar that was broadcast by Al Rayyan TV on National Day.