SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TUESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2016

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Travel & Tourism

QATAR has shown early signs of recovery from tourism slowdown with 7 percent increase in year-to-date (January-August) arrivals of GCC visitors which comprise a major share of the

total number of visitors during the period.Latest Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) report has

revealed influx of GCC nationals continued to grow with 7 percent increase in visitor arrivals from Janu-ary to August compared to the same period last year.

According to the report the total number of visi-tors to Qatar in the first eight months of the year has reached 1,926,964, majority of which (48.7 percent) are GCC nationals.

Saudi Arabia again dominated year-to-date visitor arrivals reaching 640,584 — an increase of 9 percent compared to last year. The number of UAE nationals who visited Qatar increased by 11 percent while the number of Bahrainis who visited the country was up by 2 percent. Figures of Omani and Kuwaiti visitors, on the other hand, were down by -6 percent and -1 per-cent respectively.

Meanwhile, visitors entering the country on the Qatar-Oman tourist visa increased by 2 percent year-to-date in comparison to the same period last year. Visitors who are nationals of the Americas also increased by 6 per-cent between January and August this year compared to the same period last year.

Overall, total visitor arrivals in the month of August increased by 2 percent compared to August last year. August is typically an off-peak month with declines in visitor arrivals compared to the rest of the year.

The increase in arrivals this August, compared to August of last year, comes after efforts to incentivize travel to Qatar through Qatar Summer Festival pro-motions and entertainment activities. These included special packages from 56 hotel establishments, shopping promotions in malls across Qatar, and entertainment events throughout the month, including the Doha Comedy Festival.

QTA projections point to further modest increases in visitor arrivals in the coming months, supported by Eid Celebrations in Qatar and the docking of the first cruise ship of the season in October.

A man enjoying the ride of flyboard in All Summer Sports Festival organised by Qatar Sports for All Federation (QSFA) at Katara beach. Pic: Kammutty VP / The Peninsula

HAMAD International Airport (HIA) has welcomed 17.6 mil-lion passengers during the first half of 2016, register-ing a growth of more than

20 per cent compared to the 14.6 million passengers served during the same period last year, setting a new passenger record for the airport.

HIA also saw a significant increase in aircraft operations from January to June with a total of 118,069 movements, which represents a 17 per cent increase in aircraft take-offs and landings at the airport, compared to the same period in 2015. This growth is attributed to the con-tinuous expansion of Qatar Airways with eight new destinations added in the first half of the year namely, Adelaide, Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Los Angeles, Marra-kech, Ras Al Khaimah and Yerevan as well as new flights by Philippine Airlines, Atlas Global Airlines and Himalaya Airlines.

Cargo tonnage continued to grow strongly by 20.3 per cent totalling 817,792 tonnes during the same period, further strengthening HIA’s position as one of the world’s major cargo hubs.

HIA’s top routes in regards to passen-ger numbers during the first half of this year were Dubai, London, Bangkok, Bah-rain and Colombo, generating collectively 20.3 per cent of the airport’s traffic. The UAE topped all countries in terms of total passenger numbers followed by India, Saudi Arabia, USA and United Kingdom. Regionally, the Far East achieved a 33.6 percent share of passenger movements, followed by the Middle East with 22 per-cent and Europe with 21.6 percent during the same period.

Commenting on the airport’s figures, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at Hamad International Airport, said: “The first six months of this year have been the busiest for our airport to date, achieving record passenger and aircraft movement traffic. We expect HIA to continue demonstrating a healthy and steady growth in passenger numbers for the rest of the year, supporting Qatar’s vision for HIA to be leader among global aviation hubs. We are therefore commit-ted to further invest in the development of HIA, by adding capacity, improving con-nectivity and delivering the best services to our travellers who have voted us as one of the top ten airports and the 5th best air-port shopping in the world for 2016, and the top airport in the Middle East for the last two years.”

Hamad International Airport is the hub for its home base carrier Qatar Air-ways, which now flies to more than 150 destinations worldwide, making Doha a global hub for business and leisure travel.

HIA’s facilities include two dual capac-ity runways, one of the largest free span maintenance hangars in the world, a cut-ting edge two-storey cargo facility and one of the world’s largest self-contained catering facilities. HIA also boasts an air-side hotel, two airside squash courts, a gym, a 25-metre swimming pool and spa and houses art pieces by local and interna-tional artists, placed across the terminal.

At Hamad International Airport, Qatar Duty Free offers 40,000 square metres of combined retail, food and beverage facilities, establishing the retailer as a premier shopping and dining destination. With more than 70 retail outlets offering an unprecedented selection of designer labels, fashion, electronics, gourmet foods and much more, QDF at Hamad Inter-national Airport caters to all tastes and needs. In addition, more than 30 cafes and restaurants offer a sumptuous selec-tion of global and local cuisine.

Hamad International Airport-Qatar is the official platinum sponsor of the legendary FC Bayern-Munich, the most successful club in German football his-tory, demonstrating its global focus as an organisation as well as its support of the State of Qatar’s vision for facilitat-ing and celebrating the power of sport

to bring people together. Hamad International Airport busy with families returning after the summer holidays. Pic: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula

HIA serves 17.6 million passengersThe world leading airport handled 118,069 aircraft movements between January and June 2016.

Qatar sees 7% increase in tourist arrivals from Gulf

Pic: Sajad Sahir

Qatar to ease entryprocedures forcruise passengers

Qatar Summer Festival and QTA’s Eid festivities a huge draw

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MAIN SPONSOR MAIN SPONSOR

CHAIRMANSheikh Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFDr. Khalid Al-Shafi

ACTING MANAGING EDITORMohammed Salim Mohamed

SUPPLEMENT COORDINATORAhmed Eltigani Idris

2

DESIGNAbraham Augusthy

PRODUCTIONViswanath Sarma

IMAGE PROCESSINGMohd Sajad Sahir

TypesettingDeepak John

OOREDOO recently announced that the new Passport com-panion feature is available on Oore-doo Mobile App. The

feature has been designed to signif-icantly improve user experience for roaming customers. Customers using Ooredoo Passport service can check their balance by sending an SMS con-taining “Balance OPC” to 114.

With new updates, app custom-ers will now see a new interface while launching the app abroad, and will be able to instantly see their remain-ing passport balance for their selected “preferred number” (they can choose

under the apps settings). They can also check Passport balance of all numbers under their account.

All Ooredoo App users will be able to view the standard roaming rates for calling and messaging in the coun-try they are visiting and the networks compatible with the Passport.

Users can also subscribe to Pass-port service by selecting the country’s flag in the top right hand corner of their screen. Customers who have subscribed to Passport service before travelling need to open the app and press the aer-oplane icon in the top left hand corner of the app interface and check Pass-port balance.

Those who want to see all costs

and options of roaming with Ooredoo can select the new ‘Travelling’ tab to view the list of countries where Pass-port service is available and standard roaming rates per service in the country.

Passport Companion tool is the latest update to the app and will work with all iOS 8 and above and Android 4.4.4 and above devices.

The app also allows users to man-age key Ooredoo services directly their smartphones, including upgrading Shahry Smart bundles, paying bills, topping up data and much more.

The app is available for free down-load on Google Play or iTunes for customers who have iOS 8 and above and Android 4.4.4 smartphones.

In July, Ooredoo launched the new Monthly Passport Pack to support travellers during the summer. The Monthly Passport Pack was perfect for Shahry customers travelling out-side of Qatar for a longer period, as it offered them more roaming min-utes and roaming data when they are abroad.

The new Monthly Passport Pack provided customers with 300 roam-ing minutes for receiving, making calls and 4GB of roaming mobile data. In the GCC, it included an extra 4GB of roaming mobile data — all valid for 30 days for just QR350.

The Ooredoo Passport is avail-able in more than 70 countries and

customers can use their roaming allowance within Ooredoo’s Passport network of more than 170 partners.

For more information on the full range of Ooredoo Passports, customers can visit www.ooredoo.qa/op.

Ooredoo is Qatar’s leading com-munications company, delivering mobile, fixed, broadband Internet and corporate managed services tai-lored to the needs of consumers and businesses. As a community-focused company, Ooredoo is guided by its vision of enriching people’s lives and its belief that it can stimulate human growth by leveraging communica-tions to help people achieve their full potential.

Ooredoo App unveils new Passport features All Ooredoo App users will be able to view the standard roaming rates for calling and messaging in the country they are visiting and the networks compatible with the Passport.

OOREDOO’S booth at Hamad International Airport (HIA) during Eid Al-Adha festivities welcomed hundreds of travellers, providing

entertainment and excitement during a busy period. The booth, which was open from September 10 to 13, was designed to help mark Eid with those travelling over the break.

Volunteers distributed hundreds of colouring kits to families and hosted

a special ‘photo booth’ where peo-ple could take souvenir photographs.

Located by the children’s play area in the departures, the booth also saw daily appearances of Ooredoo’s mas-cots — the Alrabaa — who posed for photos and entertained children.

Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, Direc-tor, Community and Public Relations, Ooredoo Qatar, said: “I want to thank HIA for partnership on the booth, as it enabled us to share Eid greetings and celebrations with those travelling.

“With Qatar National Day around the corner, we hope to work with HIA again to showcase the best of Qatar to citizens, visitors and travellers from around the world,” she added.

Ooredoo also organised a pop-up Ooredoo shop in the departures area, allowing travellers to make last-minute purchases of services such as Oore-doo Passport, top up their accounts or pay their Shahry bills.

Al Kuwari added: “This is an ideal way to share Qatar’s tradition of warm

hospitality with the thousands of people who are travelling this week. Oore-doo hopes this activity will brighten up their journey and share some of the spirit of Eid Al-Adha. We thank Hamad International Airport for their cooperation and partnership, as we work together to serve the community.”

Ooredoo also provided a special ‘photo booth’ for visitors, which enabled them to take photographs in traditional Qatari dress, and also sample Arabic cof-fee at selected times of the day, for free.

Travellers enjoy Ooredoo’s Eid events at HIA

SIX months after their launch, Ooredoo’s business desks are receiving thousands of visitors per month at Ooredoo Shops,

as business customers take advan-tage of the new service.

The Ooredoo dedicated busi-ness desks, which opened in selected Ooredoo retail stores in February, were designed to give business cus-tomers easier access to business services to ensure increased cus-tomer satisfaction.

The desks, which are located at Al Khor, Salwa, Al Sadd, Al Wakra, City Center, Old Airport, Landmark, and Hyatt Plaza Ooredoo Shops, ena-ble business customers to purchase the company’s business portfolio and services in-store, including Shahry Smart and Hala Business packs, Fibre and Mobile Broadband, SIP-T Busi-ness Telephony, Smart Office, Ooredoo Cloud Services, and more.

Ooredoo has seen a strong uptick

in the number of companies deploying business solutions in 2016, particu-larly from small and medium-sized businesses in Qatar looking to real-ise greater efficiencies.

Talking about the positive results, Yousuf Al Kubaisi, Chief Operating Officer, Ooredoo Qatar, said: “In addition to enhancing the level of customer care for companies, we are also introducing special offers for businesses at these locations, bring-ing superior value and productivity to small and SOHO businesses. This new Business Desks channel has proven to be a significant success, and, with thousands of customers being served every month, we hope to extend the programme further in the near future.”

Each dedicated desk offers cus-tomers a trained business sales representative to assist with their business needs, and discuss future communication plans.

Ooredoo’s business desks

see strong demand

IN THE NEWS

WALEED Al Sayed, Chief Executive Officer, Ooredoo Qatar, was named as the ‘Telecoms CEO of the Year’ at the CEO Middle East Awards recently. The ceremony, which was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Dubai, was attended by some of

the Gulf’s top executives. The annual awards seek to recognise and reward out-standing success, innovation and ethics across the region.

Waleed Al Sayed received the award in recognition of the remarkable impact he has made since being named as Chief Executive Officer of Ooredoo Qatar and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Ooredoo Group in Novem-ber 2015.

Now in its tenth year running, the CEO Middle East Awards recognises the best CEOs in 14 business categories.

In Qatar, Ooredoo suc-cessfully expanded its revenue share of the mar-ket to 72.2 percent in the first quarter of 2016, and secured 3.4 million customers by the end of 1H (first half) of 2016. The company has pursued network lead-ership in Qatar, completing a major Supernet upgrade by adding the new Category 9 LTE-Advanced standard to its mobile network and beginning work on Qatar’s first 5G research and development centre.

Waleed Al Sayed named

‘Telecoms CEO of the Year’

Ooredoo develops firewalland connectivity solution

OOREDOO has announced the launch of its new Managed Router Service Extension, which has been designed for small busi-nesses in Qatar that need to be able to network their branches

cost-effectively. In addition to enhanced networking capability, the Managed Router Service Extension solution comes with a device that has a built in full-fledged firewall. This means that customers can connect their various sites cost-effectively using any existing internet connection (Mobile Broadband, Business Fibre, among others) and can also secure their data behind a sentry that uses Unified Threat Man-agement (UTM) to automatically update its catalogue of known cyber threats. Talking about the service, Yousuf Al Kubaisi, COO of Ooredoo Qatar, said: “Our new service enables Qatar’s businesses to offload the task of managing their networks and free their IT staff to focus on rev-enue-generating initiatives.” Other benefits of the extension include WAN connectivity optimisation to prioritise bandwidth allocation for selected applications, an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) and more.

Ooredoo offers up to 6GB free data on Mobile Money transfers

OOREDOO will provide new and existing Hala and Shahry cus-tomers of its award-winning Mobile Money service free bonus data when they transfer cash internationally. The promotion

until November 28, rewards customers for using Ooredoo Mobile Money to transfer cash internationally with free data bundles, which increase depending on the amount transferred. Customers who transfer money internationally via their Ooredoo Mobile Money accounts will be able to use bonus Internet data to take advantage of the speed and perform-ance of Ooredoo Supernet for free. Ooredoo Mobile Money customers who make an international transfer of between QR101 and QR500 will receive 100 MB of data; QR501-QR1,000 will get 750 MB of data and those who transfer QR1,001-QR2,000 can enjoy 2GB of data valid for five days. Customers who transfer QR2,001-QR4,000 will get 4GB of free data and those who send QR4,001 or more internationally can enjoy 6GB of data valid for five days. Customers can register for Mobile Money for free with a valid Qatar ID at any Ooredoo shop, by dialling *140# or by downloading the free Ooredoo Money app on their mobile and following simple on-screen instructions.

4

WITH a large number of cruise passen-gers expected to arrive at the coun-try’s ports, Qatar Tourism Authority

(QTA), in coordination with the Ministry of Interior and Qatar Ports Management Company — Mwani Qatar, have announced new measures to facilitate their disembar-kation and entry for a seamless tourism experience.

Officials from the three entities have confirmed that, thanks to enhanced tech-nology and close collaboration between cruise operators and security officials, cruise passengers will be able to disem-bark within minutes and begin enjoying their on-shore excursions.

As part of the new operating proce-dure, a passenger manifest containing passport details of passengers and crew

will be shared with immigration officials 48 hours in advance of the ship’s arrival in Qatar. This will allow immigration offi-cials to process all relevant information and clear passengers for entry before the ship berths.

In addition, QTA and the Ministry of Interior have confirmed that cruise passen-gers, due to the short duration of the stay, will be eligible for transit visas, which will further ease their entry into the country.

According to Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chief Tourism Development Officer at QTA, the new procedures have been introduced in anticipation of significant increases in the number of cruise passengers.

While Qatar has previously welcomed smaller ships carrying less than a thousand passengers, the coming season will be the first to witness the arrival of larger ships with over 1,500 passengers on board. The MSC Fantasia will be the first “mega-ship” to arrive in Qatar. It will dock in Decem-ber with an expected 3,900 passengers and 1,500 crew-members on board.

“Cruise Tourism forms an important part of our strategy to increase the number of visitor arrivals to Qatar. That is why we are placing great emphasis on stream-lining all processes related to cruise as well as developing the sector’s capacity to welcome a large number of passen-gers,” commented Al Ibrahim.

“Studies show that once tourists have had a taste of a destination that they visited

on a cruise, they are likely to return for a longer visit later, giving us further impetus to focus our strategy for the next two years on this important sub-sector of tourism.”

He added, “Cruise passengers cur-rently spend eight hours on average during their stops in Qatar, so it is important to minimise the time spent on formalities on the day of their visit. We are grate-ful to the Ministry of Interior for their initiative and support in implementing a solution that will ensure our visitors get the most out of their visit without compromising on our nation’s security.” Director General of General Directorate of Nationality, Borders and Expatriates

Affairs, Brigadier Abdullah Salim Al-Ali, commented: “The Ministry of Interior always strives to facilitate government services while maintaining the utmost vigilance and security, for the sake of visitors and residents. The revised proc-ess for the entry of cruise passengers will enhance our visitors’ experience in Qatar while giving us more time to process information thoroughly using the passenger manifest, which will arrive 48 hours before the ship is due to dock.”

The announcement comes as QTA and the Ministry of Interior step up efforts to facilitate entry for tourists in a bid to increase visitor arrivals into the coun-try. Qatari officials recently signed an agreement with VFS Global that will soon allow for a fast-tracked and transparent tourist visa application process.

Thirty-two ships carrying over 50,000 passengers are expected to arrive in Qatar this cruise season, which continues until April 2017. The first ship of the season is expected to dock on October 18 at the Doha Port in the heart of Qatar’s capital.

Meanwhile, QTA is continuing to work with destination management companies and tour guides to ensure cruise passen-gers receive a warm welcome and enjoy an authentic Qatari experience during their stays. Tour guides have received intensive training on the management of large tour groups and effective com-munications about the destination.

QATAR Tourism Authority (QTA) has trained a group of tour guides from various backgrounds to guide

shore excursions throughout the country’s busiest cruise season. Partic-ipants will be evaluated and successful

candidates will receive specialist licence. The training aimed at preparing tour guides from across the country to welcome pas-sengers and deliver enjoyable, smooth and memorable excursions. During the cruise season, which begins in October and

continues until April next year, 32 cruise ships are confirmed to call at Qatar’s ports with an expected 50,000 passengers. This marks a three-fold increase in the number of ships and an increase of over 1,000 per-cent in the expected number of passengers,

from the 2015-16 season. The guides sharp-ened communication and commentary skills, knowledge of Qatar’s tourist sites, and how to build relationships with their tour groups to ensure a wholesome and unique experience.

“A tour guide plays a crucial role in shaping a tourist’s experience of a destination, and by equipping them with the right tools, we are ensuring the success of Qatar’s biggest cruise season yet,” said Najd Al Marri, Head, Tourism Product Support Section, QTA.

“This course is designed for tour guides that will work with cruise passengers, addressing the unique needs of guiding shore excursions, which are often condensed in a day and include large groups.”

Al Marri said the course targeted participants from different backgrounds to cater to the multiple nationalities that will arrive at Qatar’s shores. The guides were given a test at the end of the course through a practical evaluation that involved guiding a group on a moving bus and giving a tour of Msheireb Museums. Those who pass the test will receive certificates and a licence from QTA to become cruise ship tour guides.

Qatar to ease entry procedures for cruise passengersCruise passengers, due to the short duration of the stay, will be eligible for transit visas, which will further ease their entry into the country.

QTA trains tour guides for upcoming cruise season

A Qatar Tourism Authority official imparting training to a group of tour guides from various backgrounds to guide shore excursions throughout the country’s busiest cruise season.

QTA’s 5-day social media contest to mark WorldTourism Day

Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) will mark this year’s World Tourism Day (WTD) celebrations with a five-day social media competition in which residents stand a chance to win

exciting prizes. QTA is inviting people living in Qatar to join the contest by discovering the country through the eyes of a tourist.

Tour oper-ators will offer special rates while hotels will give discounted packages in cel-ebration of the global event under the theme Tourism For All – Promoting Universal Accessibil-ity. For the social media competition, life-size photo frames will be installed at eight landmarks around Qatar, through which participants can take a photo to upload on social media, using the hashtags #WTD2016 and #ShowcaseQatar for a chance to win prizes which include weekend stays at a local five-star hotel.

Participants can increase their chances of win-ning by visiting and uploading photos of as many of the eight locations as they can. The locations will be announced on QTA’s social media accounts: @Vis-itQatar and @QTACorporate. The competition will run from today, the day set aside in the UN calendar to celebrate WTD 2016, until October 1.

Throughout this time, special packages at discounted prices will be available at local tourist establishments, courtesy of partnering hotels and tour operators. The packages include discounted bed and breakfast, spa treatments, and lunch buffets, in addition to special rates for desert safaris, dinner dhow cruises, fish-ing trips and overnight camping. The participating tour operators are Qatar Ventures, Arabian Adven-tures Qatar, Gulf Adventures and Qatar International Adventures.

The participating hotels are Ramada Encore Doha, Al Sultan Beach Resort, Ezdan Hotel & Suites, Concorde Hotel Doha, Movenpick Hotel Westbay, Grand Hyatt Doha, Movenpick Doha, Amari DohaHotel, The St. Regis Doha, Intercontinental Doha The City, Mercure Grand Hotel, Adagio Premium Aparthotel, Al Liwan Suites, Best Western Plus Doha, Retaj Al Rayyan Doha, Retaj Royale Hotel, Retaj Residence Al Corniche, Oryx Rotana Doha, Saraya Corniche Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel Doha, Marriott Marquis City Centre, The Ave-nue – A Merweb Hotel, The Torch Doha, Grand Regal Doha, Melia Doha, Westin Doha Hotel & Spa, Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel, City Cen-tre Rotana, The Royal Riviera Hotel, W Doha, Hilton Doha, Four Seasons Hotel Doha, Marsa Malaz Kem-pinski, The Pearl, Corp Executive Hotel. For details on each establishment’s WTD offer, those interested may contact the hotels and tour operators directly.

Carrying over 50,000 passengers are expected to arrive in Qatar this cruise season, which continues until April 2017. The first ship of the season is expected to dock on October 18 at the Doha Port.

5

SYDNEY has become Qatar Airways’ first destination in Australia to be served by the super-jumbo A380 air-craft, just six months after it joined the carrier’s glo-

bal network.Following the route’s inauguration

with the Boeing 777-300 on March 1, 2016, Qatar Airways has seen a steady growth in demand for its service on the route. The 517-seater A380 air-craft increases Qatar Airways’ current daily capacity by 44 percent on this route to meet the growing travel and trade demand.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Exec-utive, Akbar Al Baker, said: “From the moment we inaugurated service to Sydney earlier this year, we have been welcomed with open arms. Customers flying to and from Sydney appreciate our global route network and our effi-cient flight schedules, which save them hours of time on the average itinerary. We are pleased to respond in kind, with the introduction of the A380 service to Sydney, offering 517 seats per flight.

“Qatar Airways brings travellers from Australia to more destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa than any other airline serving Australia today. Australia is one of the main hubs of the business world in Asia Pacific, with many passengers flying world-wide for business and leisure. What better way to serve travellers from this key destination than to introduce our

Qatar Airways starts flying A380 to Sydney

The super-jumbo A380 lands at Sydney Airport.

iconic A380 to the country, starting with the nation’s biggest hub, Sydney.”

The 517-seat capacity is spread across twin decks in a tri-class con-figuration of eight seats in First Class,

48 seats in Business Class and 461 in Economy Class, featuring world-class amenities and first rate services that set it apart from other aircraft. Passengers travelling from Sydney to London and

Paris can enjoy the Qatar Airways A380 experience throughout their journey to these two European destinations.

“We’re thrilled that Qatar Airways has upgauged to an A380 within six months of the airline’s launch in Sydney, which is testament to their early suc-cess and strong loads,” Sydney Airport Managing Director and Chief Execu-tive Officer Kerrie Mather said.

“Qatar Airways’ Doha-Sydney serv-ice already generates an estimated 3,000 jobs and contributes more than $240 million to the economy per year, plus it provides passengers with more choice and connectivity. Sydney Air-port estimates that Qatar Airways’ A380 will deliver an incremental $78m in inbound visitor expenditure annually to Australia, supporting the federal government’s target of doubling over-night visitor expenditure by 2020. On

behalf of Sydney Airport, I’d like to congratulate Qatar Airways on this significant milestone and wish them continued success on the route.”

The A380 aircraft will feature a luxurious and exclusive First Class Cabin with ultra-wide seats, which automatically recline into a flat bed, two-passenger table extension din-ing, sleeper suits, flight slippers and amenities from Giorgio Armani. Pas-sengers travelling in Qatar Airways’ award-winning Business Class can also enjoy private aisle access with the 1-2-1 seat configuration and a suite of con-nectivity options including on-board Wi-Fi, keeping them fully connected to while up in the air.

In addition, passengers in First and Business Class can relax and social-ise at the on-board lounge located on the upper deck of the super-jumbo.

Economy Class passengers also benefit with the added spaciousness of the A380, with higher ceilings on the main deck, a wider seat config-uration and design to offer more leg room plus contoured headrests.

When transiting through Qatar Airways’ hub, Hamad International Airport in Doha, passengers travelling from Sydney can enjoy a comfortable and efficient transit. The luxurious and modern airport has more than 40,000 square metres of retail space and res-taurants including more than 70 retail and 30 food and beverage outlets, as well as a 25-metre swimming pool, gym, hotel and spa.Daily Flight Schedule: DOH-SYD QR908 Departs: 21:40 Arrives: 19:35 (+1)SYD-DOH QR909 Departs: 22:25 Arrives: 05:05 (+1)

Flagship A380 aircraft increases daily capacity by 44 percent to cater for robust leisure and business travel demand to and from Sydney.

Airline bags ‘Best Up In The Air’ award

QATAR Airways has been awarded Best Up in the Air Experience at the Future Travel Experience Awards

for the second consecutive year, at the Future Travel Experience Global 2016 held in Las Vegas.

The Best Up in the Air Experience award commends leading airlines that are committed to continually advanc-ing the passenger experience. Qatar Airways was recognised as the air-line that has gone the extra mile to provide an industry leading in-flight experience.

The award highlighted Qatar Airways becoming the first airline globally to operate the Airbus A350, enhancing its in-flight entertain-ment system with the launch of the award-winning Oryx One, continu-ing to roll out on-board Wi-Fi across its fleet, and investing in Cabin Crew development, including Emotional Intelligence training and Elite Serv-ice training, tailored to the needs of premium passengers.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Exec-utive Akbar Al Baker said: “We are honoured to receive this coveted award for the second year in a row; even more so from an organisation that shares the same commitment to delivering the very best possible customer experience. From provid-ing the world’s best Business Class on one of the world’s most modern fleet of aircraft, serviced by our devoted

The Qatar Airways team, led by Rossen Dimitrov receives the FTE award for the airline’s leading on board customer experience

Cabin Crew, we continue to exceed our passengers’ expectations and to set new standards for tomorrow’s in-flight experience.”

Qatar Airways Senior Vice Pres-ident of Customer Experience, Mr. Rossen Dimitrov, said: “Our goal has always been to create the very best possible travel experience for our customers. With a clear vision for the future, we aim to celebrate the beauty of travel with our vision to creating long lasting memories for our passengers when they travel with us, and when we go places together. This award exemplifies the strength of our commitment and I remain confident that our award-winning in-flight experience will give trav-ellers a new appreciation for global aviation.”

Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) Chief Execu-tive Officer, Mr. Joe Leader, whose organisation is a major partner of FTEG, presented Mr. Dimitrov with the coveted award.

Operating one of the youngest fleets in the sky from its state of the art hub, Hamad International Air-port in Doha, Qatar Airways was also awarded World’s Best Business Class; Best Business Class Airline Lounge and Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East at the prestigious 2016 World Airline Awards managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax.

Launched in 2015, Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system, Oryx One, has one of the most extensive selections of entertainment options

available in the skies, with up to 3,000 entertainment options, including movies, TV, games, and audio. From the latest Hollywood premieres to the best of Bollywood, Arabic blockbust-ers, children’s films, cinema classics, and much more, passengers can enjoy hours of entertainment to any one of the 150 places Qatar Airways flies.

Qatar Airways has partnered with Ooredoo, the fastest-growing telecommunications company in the world, to provide Wi-Fi across the airline’s state-of-the-art fleet. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights served by its B787, A350, A380, A319 as well as select A320 and A330 aircraft can stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the airline’s on-board Wi-Fi and GSM service.

Qatar Airways wins the coveted award for the second year in a row that names the leading airline in customer experience innovation.

QATAR Airways and CNN International Commercial are partnering for a sec-ond season of the widely

popular travel show, In 24 Hours, which offers viewers an exhil-arating visual tour of the world.

Hosted by Australian presenter James Williams, the new series pre-miering in most media markets, takes viewers on a journey of some of the world’s most vibrant cities, presenting a blend of luxury and adventure experiences that are unique to each city. Tailored to the discerning traveller, In 24 Hours is designed to deliver practical advice to travellers allowing them to fully maximise their time when they touch down in some of the world’s most exciting destinations.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Execu-tive Akbar Al Baker, said: “I’m pleased to extend our partnership with CNN to support a second season of In 24 Hours, providing our travellers with a unique insight to help inspire their journeys and ignite their sense of adventure and exploration.

“With more than 150 destinations across the Qatar Airways network, we are deeply committed to going places together with our travellers and creating memorable experiences. In 24 Hours provides a platform to empower our passengers to get the most out of their leisure and busi-ness time.

“From the ground to the air, we aim to provide the very best travel experience for our passengers and In 24 Hours complements our ambition to create lasting memories for those who travel with us.”

The airline’s support of the second season of In 24 Hours is a continuation of a strong partner-ship between Qatar Airways and CNN International that has devel-oped over recent years.

CNN International Commercial

President, Mr Rani R. Raad, said: “The true sign of a successful part-nership is longevity. We are delighted to extend Qatar Airways’ multi-plat-form sponsorship of In 24 Hours to a second series and continue to build a partnership that has seen Qatar Air-ways reach engaged, global audiences through CNN since 2003. This is the very epitome of a smart brand solu-tion – compelling content, a relevant brand partner and a linear and digital platform that reaches more affluent audiences than any other.”

Qatar Airways Senior Vice Pres-ident of Marketing and Corporate Communication Salam Al Shawa, said: “The partnership between Qatar Airways and CNN International has evolved through strong brand synergy. Providing interesting, quality content that benefits our consumers is a key component to our marketing strategy and our relationship with CNN does exactly that. This city-guide series allows us to communicate directly with our most curious and passion-ate customers.”

This season’s programme high-lights some of the most exciting places across the Qatar Airway’s net-work of 150 destinations, including Los Angeles, London and Shanghai, along with a host of other cities to be announced.

Each episode of In 24 Hours spans an experience in the morn-ing, afternoon and evening, as well as a celebrity’s take on the city. Last season Williams took view-ers through New York, Hong Kong, Sydney and Milan.

A new episode of In 24 Hours will be broadcast each month on CNN International. The same epi-sode will feature a further seven times that month across their 24/7 programme as well as being availa-ble on board through Qatar Airways’ award winning inflight entertain-ment, Oryx One.

QA partners with CNN for 2nd season of travel show

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MORE than 140,000 people have visited Entertainment City during the month-long Qatar Summer Festival (QSF) which

concluded on August 31, Qatar Tour-ism Authority (QTA) has said.

The annual celebration brought together visitors from around the region to benefit from Qatar’s offerings as a family-friendly destination. “We have received encouraging feedback on the third edition of this Festival, and are looking forward to building on this success to explore exciting new opportunities that can support Qatar’s growing events calendar,” said Rashed Al Qurese QTA’s Chief Marketing and Promotion Officer.

“We are grateful to our many part-ners, in both the public and private sectors, for delivering a successful festival and driving footfall to malls, hotels and venues across the country through a broad variety of packages and entertainment offers.”

A powerful draw to visitors was Entertainment City, which attracted over 140,000 visitors. Extending over 29,000 square metres, the City boasted a wide range of gaming and entertain-ment options for children and adults alike, and hosted several popular stage performances including The Smurfs and My Little Pony.

The final weekend saw perform-ances by the popular child singer Rama Rabat, who also joined young visitors as they enjoyed rides and colouring activities.

Regional comedy talent drew laughs from nearly 4,000 attendees at the Doha Comedy Festival and Street Madness, a sports entertainment event featuring a mini-football league where teams are led by social media influ-encers and celebrities from around the region.

Sixty lucky winners walked away from the weekly raffle draws with four Jaguar cars and cash prizes worth QR800,000 in total. Meanwhile, partnerships with members of the hospitality sector to provide special packages to visitors this year doubled in number from last year’s festival, reaching 56 hotel establishments.

The festival has earned praise from visitors for putting up the biggest Entertainment City which is acces-sible and with diverse offerings and new attractions.

The amusement centre at Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) witnessed hundreds of visi-tors, mostly families, enjoying a variety of rides and games, especially the new ones. For a QR15 entry fee, people enjoyed several free games and fea-tures such as the virtual reality game,

mobile games and photo booth.“I have never seen the photo booth

previously in the festival and I think this is what many people like because they want to keep something to remem-ber,” said Raj, one of the visitors who took a photo with his wife at the booth.

The photo, which contains the fes-tival logo, can be printed and taken by

visitors as souvenir from the Entertain-ment City. “On a daily basis we print between 500 and more than 600 all for free,” Noel Dale Tanco, Technical Officer at Atelier 101, said.

Virtual reality and Qatari-made mobile games Khalifa Dive and Khalifa Run were among the crowd-pulling free games at the festival, by Doha-based

digital development and events com-pany Atelier 101.

We allow each one to have up to three snapshots and two virtual real-ity games. But when it gets busy we limit them to give chance to those in the queue,” added Tanco.

Go Kart has been a magnet for young racing enthusiasts and the city

is witnessing long queues to try the QR30 ride daily. “I never miss to try Go Karting whenever there’s a chance. This is my favourite so far at the festi-val,” said Mahmoud, after his third ride.

New skill games are also a big draw, such as The Human Claw Box, which draws inspiration from claw machine arcade game, but instead of claw a person is suspended over the boxes which contain prizes he has to capture in 90 seconds with the help of another player manipulat-ing a joystick. “It is an exciting and challenging game that requires skill which many visitors like to experi-ence,” said Iman, a representative of the Dubai-based company operat-ing the game.

Because of the high ceiling of the venue, organisers are able to bring high games, including Flavio Slide which also saw long queues of chil-dren who enjoyed the 26-metre-long and 10-metre-high classic slide ride.

People thronged other amusement rides such as City Hopper and Crazy Wave to family rides such as cater-pillar, carousel and bumper cars, in addition to inflatable slides and water games. Dozens of arcade and life-size games also attracted large crowds.

Hundreds of families flocked to the entertainment stage which featured a variety of shows, including The Smurfs, Arabic mascots and Ardha perform-ers, among others. There was also a food court with 26 stalls selling dif-ferent dishes such as Arabic, Indian, American and Chinese cuisines.

Compared to the previous festival venue, DECC is far more accessible

in terms of location and parking area which can accommodate nearly 3,000 cars, according to visitors. The Min-istry of Economy and Commerce’s recent decision to regulate car parking charges has resulted in more afford-able parking fees at DECC which has been welcomed by visitors.

The festival kicked off in a spec-tacular fashion, with a colourful opening capped by a breathtaking fireworks display on the Corniche. Some street performers donning striking costumes while others carry-ing giant inflatable mascots roamed around the venue as dabka performers danced along the beat of the drums in unison, entertaining hundreds of children and families.

Hundreds of multi-coloured bal-loons, along with silver confetti, were released marking the launch of the month-long festival aimed at driv-ing domestic and inboud tourism and cement Qatar’s position as a top family destination.

The Entertainment City is a major highlight of this year’s festival organised by QTA under the theme ‘Colour Your Summer’. Other features of the festi-val are hotel and shopping promtions to boost Qatar’s hospitality and retail sectors during the off-peak season.

Fifty-six hotels have lined up spe-cial packages, including ‘pay for two nights and stay for three’ in hotels, and ‘pay for five nights and stay for six’ in hotel apartments. Lagoona Mall, Landmark Mall, Gulf Mall, Ezdan, Al Khor Mall, Hyatt Plaza, City Centre Doha, Dar Al Salam and The Pearl-Qatar offerred shopping promotion,

QSF: Over 140,000 visit Entertainment City

7

AS THE mercury starts to dip and the summer draws to a close, more and more people go to the beach while others take part in water sports activities at resorts and

other popular destinations.With the onset of autumn, the Meteorology

Department has forecast gradual decrease in temperatures this month which is ideal for water sports enthusiasts to engage in their passion for these high-intensity sports fast becoming a favourite pastime in Qatar. Some people, however, shy away from exorbitant fees charged by resorts for using their facil-ities. Thanks to the ‘Sports For All Summer Festival’, people get the chance to engage in water sports for free.

Organised by Qatar Sports For All (QSFA) federation, the festival began yesterday and

runs until the end of the month at Katara Beach. “This is the first event of its kind that we have organised in Katara. We already had different sports events and activities but this is the first time in Katara. The aim is to get more people involved in sports and be more active,” Ahmad Mubarak, Events Coordinator at QSFA told The Peninsula yesterday.

The festival is going to run every week-end from Thursday to Saturday for the entire month of September from 4pm to 9pm at Katara Beach Gate 14. It offers a variety of water activities for the entire family.

“We have activities for children and fam-ilies such as slides, mini-pool, inflatable ride, jet skis and flyboards from Qatar Sailing and Marine Sports Federation (QSMSF) and a vol-leyball court,” said Mubarak.

Water sport companies Blue Marine and

Speed Marine are also present at the venue with their products. “Everything is free of charge. Anybody can come, have a look and play at no cost,” added Mubarak. Although there is no age limit, children below ten years old who wish to be in the water should be accompanied by parents and to ensure safety, lifeguards and security personnel are present at the venue, he added.

The month-long event is being organised by QSFA in cooperation with Katara, Qatar Tourism Authority and QSMSF with the par-ticipation of Blue Marine and Speed Marine.

The Qatar Sports For All Federation was established last year under the Ministry of Youth and Sports with the goal of spreading awareness of the concept of sports, expand the scope of practice, and increase the number of participants in physical activities.

ATAR got its first-ever zipline at Splash Water Park Katara which was officially launched at Katara beach on the south-east side of the Cultural Village early this

month. Ziplines have gained popularity as a major attraction in resorts around the world as an adventure ride in which a user goes from top to the bottom of an inclined cable while attached to a moving pulley.

A user can avail of an exhilarat-ing ride through the 150-metre zipline from 3pm till midnight every day for the next two months, said Hatim Abous-sid, Business Development and Events Manager at Alaqat, organisers of the water park. The equipment is provided by a Philippine-based company and a team of experts from the Philippines is here for the entire duration of the park, said Aboussid.

“The zipline is the first ever in the country and guests can avail of the ride for QR100. It gives them a feel-ing of adventure and an opportunity for them to face the fear of heights,” he said. The ride is one of around 60 games and rides available at the tem-porary water park, some of which are new in Doha.

It is the first water park in Doha with inflatable water rides set in a fine environment for the entire fam-ily, especially this season. The water section is filled with new activities

we are bringing for the first time in the country such as sliders, jumpers, water blobs,” said Aboussid.

There are around 30 water rides and activities in addition to 30 more games and activities scattered around the 7,000sqm area. Except for the zipline, other rides and activities can be used by guests for a one-day pass for QR100.

“We also have a stage to host activities from 7pm every day such

as activities for kids, competitions and live performances,” he said. “We are planning to reveal more surprises to our guests by adding attractions every week. Our aim is to give families a getaway in Doha and not far away, something they can do on regular basis,” he added.

The park is open daily from 3pm until midnight for two months. “It will

last two months but we are looking into ways to expand it and make it last a bit longer for the benefit of the public, maybe, organise it twice a year. We appreciate initiatives being taken by the government and the private sector to have lots of events, especially this season with Eid coming up and we thought of this as our contribution,” he said.

The park is organised by Alaqat in partnership with Katara and Qatar Tourism Authority. “This is the first time we offer this kind of experience on the beach through new facilities provided by a company. This is an added value to Katara and we hope everybody will enjoy the facilities,” Engineer Ahmad Abdulrahman Al Sayed, Deputy General Manager for

Operations at Katara told the media after launch.

Asked on safety and security at the park, he said, “They have done risk assessment to ensure safety and security of facilities which is paramount since this is a place for families we should take care of.” Al Sayed hoped the park would become a vehicle to attract more visitors to Katara.

First-ever zipline at Splash Water Park Katara

Revel in ‘Sports For All Summer Festival’ at Katara Beach

Q Ziplines have gained popularity as a major attraction in resorts around the world as an adventure ride in which a user goes from top to the bottom of an inclined cable while attached to a moving pulley. A user can avail of an exhilarating ride through the 150-metre zipline from 3pm till midnight every day for the next two months

QATAR continues to position itself as a family destina-tion of choice in the GCC for Eid holidays with the

cornucopia of shows and activities catered to children and fami-lies attracting huge crowds. If the sheer volume of visitors watching various shows in malls and other venues is any indication, a large number of visi-tors enjoyed this Eid’s line-up of events organised by Qatar Tourism Author-ity (QTA) under the ‘Eid Celebrations in Qatar’ programme.

The week-long “Eid Celebrations in Qatar” nationwide recently con-cluded on a high note. Thousands of visitors thronged 18 venues across the country where dozens of family-ori-ented shows and activities were held, cementing the country’s reputation as a preferred family destination in the Gulf during Eid holidays. Eid Al Adha festival is one of the highlights of the many events held by QTA annually to act as a catalyst to propel domes-tic and regional tourism.

“Festivals are an important part of Qatar’s strategy to build a rich calen-dar of events that drive footfall to the country’s venues and attract visitors year-round. Following on the success-ful run of festivals we have delivered this year in partnership with the pri-vate sector, we are looking forward to exploring new additions to the annual events calendar,” Mashal Shahbik, QTA’s Director of Tourism Events and Festi-vals, said yesterday.

Shahbik underscored the close cooperation between QTA and vari-ous sectors in turning the festival into a big success. “Eid Celebrations in Qatar are made possible thanks to the exten-sive collaboration and backing of our

partners in the retail, hospitality and entertainment sectors in support of QTA’s efforts to diversify the coun-try’s tourism offering.

Among the major players at this year’s Eid Al Adha festival were the malls which hosted diverse shows which attracted a big number of res-idents and tourists.

The six participating malls brought down the curtain on their exclusive shows including Tarzan (City Centre Doha), Beauty & The Beast (Dar Al

Salam) Flying Superkids (Al Khor Mall), Alvin and the Chipmunks (Ezdan Mall), Pirates from the Caribbean (Lagoona Mall) and Sinbad the Sailor (Hyatt Plaza).

Parades and shows which rotated around the participating malls includ-ing African Drummers, Kids Magician, Funny Ball Performer, Circus Specta-cle, Circus Bear and Clown and Qatari Traditional Dance also attracted huge audiences.

Katara’s 50-minute spectacular “Sinbad the Sailor” as well as “Fafa

Saves the Forest” live children’s show at the Qatar National Convention Cen-tre were also main attractions during their run. The children’s shows held at The Pearl Qatar and the concerts featuring popular Arab singers at the Abdualziz bin Nasser Theatre in Souq Waqif were also were a big draw.

Other venues which hosted Eid festival events and activities included Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani Museum, Al Samariyah Equestrian Centre, Aqua Park, Aspire Zone, Souq Waqif, Dahl Al Hamam Park and Al Dossari Zoo & Game Reserve.

“My kids and everyone here are happy with the show. We have been coming back to Qatar because every year there is something new,” said Saad Nasser, a tourist from Saudi Arabia in the audience. Saudi Arabia is Qatar’s top tourist source country.

Hundreds of families headed to Katara to catch the staging of “Sinbad, the Sailor” which saw the interplay of storytelling, thrilling acrobatics and cutting edge technology, cementing once again Katara’s status as a hub for world-class spectaculars. “As usual, Katara continues to offer its local and

foreign audiences and visitors the best recreational and cultural programmes and experiences. The Cultural Vil-lage has an established reputation as a renowned hub and fun house,” said Katara General Manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti.

People cheered as aerial artistes performed stunts and acrobatics with much daring during the 50-minute play presented three times concluding with a breathtaking fireworks display. Katara also brought smiles to children as it presented them ‘Eidyah’, a gift given as part of Eid tradition.

Mashal Shahbik, Director, Tour-ism Events and Festivals, said, “We are delighted to invite our visitors and families returning to Qatar before the start of the school year to capture joy with us at Eid Al Adha celebrations. We are excited by our renewed part-nership with Baraem TV to bring ‘Fafa Saves the Forest’ to QNCC’s main the-atre. Over the past few weeks, ticket sales around the region have shown it to be a major attraction for families from the GCC.

Programmes organised by the Public Relations Department at the

Ministry of Interior also drew large audiences who enjoyed perform-ances by talents from the Indian, Sri Lankan, Indonesian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Nepalese commu-nities at Wakra Sports Club, Asian Town in Industrial Area and Barwa Workers Sports Complex in Al Khor.

For Arabic music lovers, a series of concerts of prominent Arab singers at Abdualziz bin Nasser Theatre in Souq Waqif featured Saad Jumaa and Fouad Abdualwahed. The concerts were organ-ised by Sout Al Rayyan radio station.

The Ministry of Culture and Sport organised shows highlighting tradi-tional Qatari dances and multicultural performances at Dahl Al Hammam Park. The Al Dosari Zoo and Game Reserve was open to receive guests from 3pm to 7pm while the Sheikh Faisal Museum offered tours from 9am to 6pm. Families seeking an action-packed Eid engaged in sports events at Aspire Zone including tennis, football, volleyball and biking, among others.

Qatar Air Sports Committee organ-ised aerial paragliding tours at Sealine Beach while Al Samriya Equestrian Academy offered horse riding for a fee.

Thousands of visitors capture joy this Eid

The Pearl-Qatar: A tourist attraction exuding natural beauty & cosmopolitan sophisticationI

N RECENT years, Qatar has been investing heavily in tourism, through the development of advanced infra-structure and facilities to fulfil the wants and needs of its residents and visitors alike as well as to raise the caliber of services in the commercial and recre-ational sectors. This is also being complemented by

the organization of year-round events and activities which serve to attract a remarkable number of families and tourists from various GCC countries as well as from around the world.

In this spirit, The Pearl-Qatar has become one of Qatar’s most iconic sites, exuding natural beauty and cosmopolitan sophisti-cation that magnet tourists coming to this country. A world class destination for tourism, shopping, luxury lifestyle and living, The Pearl-Qatar is a man-made island spanning over four mil-lion square meters of reclaimed land off the coast of Doha’s West Bay. It consists of ten Mediterranean-themed districts most notably Porto Arabia which echoes the famous French Riviera, Qanat Quartier or Qatar’s own Venice and Medina Centrale also dubbed as the Island’s Spanish-style towncentre.

The Pearl-Qatar equally boasts an assortment of residential accommodations for every taste and style. High-end retail and lavish hospitality, three world-class marinas, luxurious amenities and an impressive beachfront have made United Development Company’s (UDC) flagship development as much a landmark des-tination as it is a holistic experience, blending residential charm with the comfort of an exclusive resort.

The Island is also an internationally acclaimed shopping destination offering residents and visitors alike an experience unmatched in Qatar or the region. With two million square feet of retail space on offer, The Pearl-Qatar houses an exhilarat-ing blend of commerce and community, fusing European and Arabian tastes through top name fashion and lifestyle brands in addition to a huge variety of restaurants and avenue coffee shops serving cuisines from around the world.

As an Island, The Pearl-Qatar values water as a salient asset making it a unique waterfront destination and an ideal location for all types of water activities. Therefore, adventure lovers have the opportunity to explore a range of exciting new water sports that keep the waters at The Pearl-Qatar busy throughout the year with activities like stand up paddling, water skiing, kayaking, drag racing, fishing and boating in addition to reg-ular family entertainment events and performances drawing huge crowds over weekends and special holidays.

The Pearl-Qatar is the first development in the region to guarantee 100 per cent foreign ownership of the actual freehold. Whether it is the purchase of a tower plot, luxury villa, elegant townhouse or deluxe apartment, owners are granted absolute property rights and the benefits of a rewarding investment in the budding Qatari real estate market.

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