Would it be open to all or a priveleged few
Experience ‘Qatar in 48 Hours’, QTA urges transit passengers
DOHA: Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) is likely to launch the ‘Qatar in 48 Hours’ programme by next month, according to an official.
The campaign is one of the initiatives of QTA in partnership with Qatar Airways to promote Qatar as a heritage destination by encouraging transit passengers to experience the country in two days.
“We want tourists to see Qatar not only as a business destination. There are also many cultural and historical sites they visit as well as upscale leisure activities they can engage in,” Soha Moussa, Head of Promotions and Abroad Exhibitions, QTA told The Peninsula.
“The plan of the Tourism Board is to attract five percent of the tourist travellers from the 50m annual estimated passenger capacity of the new airport for additional 48 hours through this programme,” said Moussa.
Moussa said they are designing a tailored programme which includes a very attractive package for tourists to experience Qatar in 48 hours.
@ randomguy,thank you! as is clearly obvious from MOST of the responses,this place isn't really what comes to mind when one thinks "holiday"...searing summer temperatures,completely ineffective public transport systems,shopping malls with standard high street brands(nothing one can't find in their home towns or elsewhere),complete lack of entertainment venues,cultural restrictions on dress code,alcohol consumption,etc...so yes,really "holiday" is not what comes to mind with ANY place that sounds like the above!...even if it's for 48 hrs.,that's two days of a holiday wasted right there!...& yes,as for your observation,unfortunately this place has a fair few a** kissers/brown nosers who believe it is their moral duty to argue with anyone that dares to point out the realities of this place,why that is so I will leave to your common sense to figure out!...have a good one!...
What this thread is screaming out is- "I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY ON THE SUBJECT BUT I WILL ATTACK YOU FOR SAYING SOMETHING ON THE SUBJECT"
as does yours Stealth!
flor, better leave the guy. His history on the online world speaks for itself...
courtesy is not in your vocabulary. You won't appreciate anything in life if a simple thing as courtesy to your host you can't give.Sorry, I was not RAISED like you! Ungrateful!
There's nothing really here. Qatar doesn't have enough tourist spot so this is flawed... Not until the 2022 hopefully by that time bachelors will be treated with open arms & not as an outcast...
freedom of speech,freedom of thought,freedom of opinion...some like it,some don't,as for 'talking ill of my host',I don't see it like that,you do...this is a business arrangement,my services for which I get paid,this host-guest business is YOUR perception of this relationship NOT MINE & your problem,in case you didn't realize it,is your inability & unwillingness to accept that perceptions vary because people are different...fundamentally different...you say leave the rant outside,I say leave the a** kissing/brown nosing outside...to each their own eh?...
eh? As CB said, and as you spell it clearly, FREEDOM it is, freedom for you to leave this place you dislike!And FYI, I do like it but not 100 %. But I was raised to be courteous and taught that before you talk ILL of your HOST, leave first and do the rant outside! Others call it RESPECT, appreciation of good things you get while you are IN!
It's an opinion,one i'm entitled to...i didn't come here for a blasted holiday,I came here to spend some time with my folks & earn a tax-free income,that does NOT mean I have to like everything about the place...there are those with good opinions & those with not so good ones,i'm one of the latter,of which there are others as are those of the former...live & let live eh?...spell it with me, F-R-E-E-D-O-M...
Oh I forgot to mention Speed and DaRuDe and the many others who have filled QL with information.I see this as a real chance to let tourists have an opportunity to look at one of the Gulf countries on an easy basis.In any case innovative if they can put it into practice and there are many young educated people here who have the brain to make this venture a success.To the others - well if you dislike living in a developing country and don't like the adventures of the everyday traffic, or accepting the new ideas and innovation of a new developing country - then I think this is not a place to be.Take the hazzards of the everyday life as an adventure and a challange for you to deal with and see how you succeed MO
No boys and thank you always here, lots of things changed and I was very busy and to be honest there was just no time but I do follow now and again hope all of you are doing well.
OMG my eyes deceive me Canarybird is back on QL! Where have you been? Are you back in Qatar? I thought u had left.
canarybird!!!!!!!!wow welcome back looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time no see
The authority concerned should issue a broucher and itinerary on "how to spend 48 hrs' in Qatar.
Beaches, Souq Wakif, MIA, Eating Out, Katara, Mall Hoping and many more.
Good move!
troll off elsewhere s_isale
Amazing how just a small piece of news like this can send people ranting and raving. QL has not changed.Give the country a chance, in every country there are good and not so good things but we learn to live with and accept.Qatar is developing and at a rapid pace which might not meet with the agreement of all - new streets, new malls and many new ideas - did anyone take a look at the new hospital Sidre how that is developing - a beautiful building.If all would take a little time to stand back and look at Qatar they might just find something interesting worthwhile seeing.Certainly many QL members made a big effort in the past to get people together and get them out and about - Smoke, Colt, Khanan and many others - they did a lot of good work so look at it all a little more positively and think this might offer the one or the other a small business opportunity.
take your foul mouthed rants somewhere else.
why do you put a full stop after your sentence and also say period? :-P
smoke,with all due respect man,the guy's a a** kissing twat who expects everyone to toe his line about his unquestioning,everlasting love for this place...please!...& frankly,none of OUR opinions on ANY topic on this site(or any other public forum!) is going to do anything about anything,now is it?!...this is an avenue to voice an opinion.period...surely you don't think that opinion is going to change anything?!...in this,of all the places!...have a good weekend man!...
Ladies IMO, please take your sheeeeeet somewhere else! Coz frankly neither of your opinions on the subject is going to do anything about anything. IMO :P
that is something YOU have ASSUMED & you have already admitted to making that assumption:- "am I wrong to assume that that is a general comment and not an opinion of his?" that,in case you didn't realize,is your admission of the fact that you ASSUMED & someone that ASSUMES something about someone else's opinion is NOT entitled to point a finger at them...very simple! now run along,don't you have a superior's rear-end to kiss somewhere?...
you are the one to prove something else and not speculate! Read your very first comment again and ask yourself whether you are saying an opinion or a biassed view of this country?Have you ever said something good about this country that feeds YOU! Courtesy, man or are you even a man to know what courtesy is? My goodness!
& AGAIN,that is YOUR opinion but AGAIN either you're too daft to even realize it or you have nothing to justify your stand...either way,you lose! :)...
reveals what kind of a person you are! And it's not my OPINION. It's what you are! Really feel sorry for you!But you ca go on defending your ....! You're totally an .......!
no flor,you ASSUME that!...it's just that you don't even realize it! :) oh & as for "IMO",this is a PUBLIC forum,EVERYONE is stating their OPINION,that doesn't have to be spelt out...for someone with half a brain that is!...
it means the other way around it seems?You could have affixed, IMO! the least! But of course, what to expect from someone like you? It's but natural for you to dislike this country, I wonder WHY? Not happy? Better .. ....!
flor,you are wrong to assume. period. if you "assume",that takes away ANY right you have to point a finger at ANYONE else...i say it's my opinion,you ASSUME it's not...& seeing as assumptions are the mother of all f**kups,i suggest you keep your ASSUMPTIONS to yourself,voice an OPINION if you must & don't point fingers at others voicing theirs,simply because it is the polar opposite of your own...these are the fundamentals of engaging in any sort of debate,the very fact that it needs to be pointed out to you says a lot...
there we go Flor we can be pleasant towards each other, unlike that rotten little trol smelly_tamilian
opponents!
hello Flor top of the evening to ya!
who's who?HGL, where is the "my opinion" in the post? Was it implied? Knowing this guy and how he dislike this country, am I wrong to assume that that is a general comment and not an opinion of his?Oh, and he is a very good in English! Bravo, Doc! Read again the very first comment!
@ smelley_tamilian.....bahahahaha oh dear you sad loser troll...crawl back under your rock now, run along little troll
just a small reminder of Qler called PM
u tamilians r born arse holes and raven u pig why stay here if u dont like
tsk tsk u smelly venkanth the day ur ip gets traced ur arxse will be kicked out just wait and watch
@ randomguy,even for the shopaholics,Dubai is a MUCH better option,more choice,better service staff,better public transport,always a sale on somewhere or the other,etc....so this place is a POOR 2nd,even in that respect...
Flor back on his soap box again....your getting tiresome Flor with your rants, take your meds and run along now!
I dont know how anyone can argue the points brought up here. Outside of the big sports events that happen far too infrequently, there really is nothing to do here. If someone wanted to actively plan a stopover on their way to Aus (as someone mentioned), I would really believe they would choose Dubai over this place. The two are incomparable really.
I always questioned why Doha had so many 5 star hotels. As beautiful as they are, the question has always been: "What are the coming here to see to stay in those places?"
There is plenty of accommodation for tourists, but you need something unique to draw people here. Unfortunately, there is everything and more in Dubai, just done better.
Its not that I want to bash Doha, its a simple matter of fact. I would be overjoyed to see change and welcome some interesting attractions. Anything to break up the monotony of this city.
@herne Villagio is copy of a mall, not different kind of mall..Could be an interesting 48 hrs trip during less hot months but Qatar should realistically give up aspirations of becoming a tourist hub.. Not going to happen till they provide more options at night.. During the day hardly anything to do in the heat, there is only so much time you can spend shopping...
flor.... I will not get involved in your personal matter, if that is how it is ... but when you say "SMELLY" in capitals you know very well what it means atleast on QL. And what you term as tirade, I see it as opinion... it may be right or wrong as one sees it, but then again it is all comparative based on individuals perception, prejudices, insecurities, maturity, foresight, eccentricity, idiocy quotient, etc. etc....but then that still is an individuals opinion... I may differ but IMO cannot stop someone from having his opinion. You could have added something positive as you perceive in context to make your point, but that isnt what you did actually.Goodnight.
we can meet...once you achieve a decent level of English proficiency!...unfortunately I don't speak Tagalog & you don't speak Hindi & your current standard of English is piss poor...& that's putting it mildly,so communication will definitely be an issue...& I REALLY don't have the time to keep repeating myself to someone who's almost twice my age,that's just pathetic...for you I mean...but thank you for the offer!...I will politely decline,I don't gel well with suck-ups! :) & btw, contrary to what you think,not every term with the word 'a55' in it is considered "foul language"...that's your free lesson for the day,sonny boy! :)
This dentist is going beyond his line. If I call you a55 kisser, HGL, how would you react?Is he the only person here in his "right mind"? As I said before, I never used any foul language in all my posting but this guy is already influenced by some people with "superiority complex". MAybe he forgets his roots? He thinks he is a superior being with his kind of tirades against this country! Very ungrateful person!
Interesting "SMELLY person"..... now where should I start with or should I hold on for a while....thinking!!!!!
SMELLY person? You think you are superior than me? Let us meet, Doc! Personal opinion, eh? ULOL!
It's called a "personal opinion",something that might be slightly hard for a brown nosed a55 kisser to understand,but do try! :)...
who go here as tourist or who will go here are "not in their right mind"? Who are you to say that? Are you speaking for all?True, positive and negative views but susing such language as "in their right mind?" a view? Of who, a SANE MAN??????? Big question mark??????? Are you pre-judging or judged other people?
one could ask the same question in return!...a forum is for DEBATING,i.e there will be BOTH positive & negative views...juvenile brown nosers with the obvious inability to engage in such debate should therefore refrain from,to quote his highness,"sticking their a55es here"! :)...
was the whole program been announced? Wait 'til the official annoucement is out.I'm really surprised for some ungrateful persons who earn their living here and yet could not say anything positive about this country. Again, please exercise some degree of courteousness!Why stick your a55es here if you can not see anything positive about this country?
If you have enough time and you get a good deal, why not?It might be interesting for anyone who's never been to this part of the world. It will be good for someone going from one part of the world to the other and see something different and relax between two long trips. Imagine going from USA to Australia (14 and 13 hours), it will be great to refresh in between.And the desert is pretty good, Souq Waqif and Katara are nice, Villaggio is a different kind of mall.
Tourists are considered to be customers of the country they visit. And customers look for customer service to be impressed. Where is that?
Just another unrealistic dream for Qatar. Qatar is a place that offers jobs, not tourist destinations.
Passport with Immigration, Credit card with the rent a car company and that would be the start of a memorable trip and this transit passenger may never want to pass by again
Keep ya passport with immigration as collateral and you need a passport to enter a bar!!! Win win situation...
Qatar may soon get the 'The most boring place on earth' back.....that tagline just died....
I think 48 hrs is more than enough to see everything :0)
after 48hour thinkin y did i waste my 48hour
oops
i am sure 8hours will go in traffic.....
My son and his wife are transiting thro Doha from UK, would cost them about 6000QR extra to stop here for a few days, due to ticketing policies.Does this encourage tourism?
@ happygolucky,that is if they are allowed beyond immigration @ the airport in the first place!...as goodoldjoe rightly asked,is this open to all?! :)...
Singles (from some countries) beware.... plan your travel in such a way so that none of the days is a Friday, you may not be able to enter certain malls for discount shopping...:)
who,in their right mind,would want to "experience" this place is beyond me!!!...even for 48hrs.!!!...