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Asif Iqbal
Doha
THE decision by Qatar to allow citizens of 80 countries to enter the country visa-free will be a game changer for the hospitality and the retail sectors, according to top business executives.
"The decision will be a big boost to the hospitality industry enabling more tourists to visit Qatar," the General Manager of Concorde Hotel Doha, Mashour Refai told ton Wednesday.
According to Refai, the visa-free decision will put Qatar on the global tourism map as it makes travelling to the country simple and hassle-free."With people from 80 countries expected to visit Qatar, we can expect increased hotel occupancy round the year. Besides, the food and beverage industry will also benefit from it," he said.
Echoing Refai's view, LSV Perera, divisional manager, Corporate Communications & Marketing at Jumbo Electronics, said that the scrapping of visa requirements for 80 nationalities will be a shot in the arm for the retail industry as well.
"Electronic items in Qatar are available at a very competitive price compared to some other countries. So, when tourists come, they will be tempted to buy electronic items from here. We needed this kind of assistance from the government and it has come at the right time,"Perera said.
Perera added that other retail segments like garments will also benefit from increased tourist inflow.
Karunakar Menon, divisional manager at al Hitmi Group said,"Visa exemption for Indians will encourage many middle class Indians to visit Qatar."
