00:00The country has embarked on a drive to increase tourism, so the ballooning was a good fit
00:08and having a festival every year brings a lot of joy and happiness to people.
00:15Hello and welcome to Qatar365 with me, Laila Humaira.
00:20On this episode, we explore all the ways residents and visitors can see Qatar's beauty spots,
00:26whether it's on wheels, wings or water.
00:29But first, you're probably familiar with the iconic skyline behind me.
00:33Doha's West Bay skyline is often appreciated by tourists on foot or by car.
00:38But Adel Halim embarked on a journey by air and sea.
00:45Just prior to landing at Qatar's Hamid International Airport, passengers are greeted by stunning
00:50views of the country's Pearl Island, the luxurious man-made island sitting on 4 million meters
00:56of reclaimed land.
00:58Many visitors head into the city along the picturesque Corniche, but that's just one
01:03way to experience Qatar's skyline.
01:06If you're seeking an adventure high in the sky, a hot air balloon ride may be what you're
01:11looking for.
01:12You'll get a bird's eye view of Doha and beyond from about 600 meters in the air.
01:18It's a totally different perspective.
01:20I mean, for me, I've been born and raised here and having the experience of flying in
01:27a balloon and seeing it from a different perspective is totally different.
01:33Same familiar areas, but the view is absolutely amazing.
01:39Captain Hassan Al Moussaoui is a long-time commercial pilot and says the beauty of a
01:43hot air balloon is captivating to people of all ages.
01:47We wanted to have something different.
01:49The country has embarked on a drive to increase tourism, so the ballooning was a good fit
01:55and having a festival every year brings a lot of joy and happiness to people.
01:59The Qatar Balloon Festival started in 2019 and recently completed its fifth edition.
02:04Fifty-seven balloons took flight, 50 were selected from 21 countries, and seven were
02:10locally made.
02:12Captain Hassan says Qatar has positioned itself as a place for family-oriented activities
02:17and its fun-for-all approach is a large part of the country's tourism strategy.
02:21I think it's a building block approach, and as we are building the different sectors that
02:28are supporting the tourism, it's just a natural evolution.
02:32But if airborne excursions aren't your thing, don't worry, you've got options.
02:36With more than four million visitors arriving in Qatar in 2023, the country is well on its
02:41way to achieving its stated goal of attracting six million tourists by 2030.
02:47One way to do that is by using its strategic advantage as a peninsula, surrounded mostly
02:51by water, with numerous water activities on offer.
02:55A popular water excursion is a relaxing dhow boat cruise like this one, with picturesque
03:00views everywhere you turn.
03:02So dhow boat holds a really significant cultural value in Qatar's maritime history, as it was
03:09used for pearl diving and fishing mostly.
03:12But now when visitors come here, they can enjoy the scenic views of the Doha skyline
03:19and can have a really relaxing and peaceful time, escape from the city in the sea.
03:26Experience Qatar offers immersive and authentic excursions around the country, from city to
03:31cultural tours, offering visitors unique ways to enjoy Qatar.
03:35They learn more about the history of Qatar, so their perspective changes.
03:39We have like different water activities, it's like for the people who love diving,
03:44we have snorkeling, we have paddle boarding, we have like cruise ships, so we have like
03:50a lot of water activities to do in Doha.
03:57Cruise season is back in Qatar, which means massive ships are docking at the old Doha
04:02port on a weekly basis.
04:04The picturesque Mina district is what welcomes thousands of tourists as they disembark the
04:09And while the word old is in the name of the area, the amenities and facilities are anything
04:15but.
04:16I spoke to Mohamed Abdullah Al Mola, the CEO of Old Doha Port, to find out how the harbour
04:21is boosting Qatar's maritime tourism.
04:27Thank you for having us today here at the Old Doha Port.
04:30Can you tell us first the historical and cultural significance of the Old Doha Port and how
04:35did it help shape Qatar's development as a country?
04:39Well, Old Doha Port has always been a very significant port for all Qataris who lived
04:46in Qatar back in the last century.
04:51In fact, it has many reasons for being a very significant role that played in the growth
04:58of the economics due to the fact that this port was the first and the only commercial
05:04port back in the 1940s, 50s, all the way till only recently, 2017, when all the commercial
05:13operations moved from this port.
05:17And just looking around, there are some very standout architectural features that preserve
05:24the old style of housing in Qatar.
05:26Why was it important to keep this cultural, architectural heritage when redeveloping this
05:34area?
05:35We tried to introduce a new architectural language by maintaining and reshaping some
05:42of the coastal houses that were residing on the coastal side of Qatar back in the 1940s
05:51and 50s.
05:52In a way, again, to reflect the history of the cities, a sign of appreciation again to
05:56our grandparents who have suffered back then and did all their best to make sure that next
06:05generations are living of the most economical and best lifestyle.
06:10One of the key highlights, as you mentioned earlier, during the winter season is the cruise
06:15season as well, when massive ships like the one behind us just sail into Qatar and dock
06:21themselves here and carrying hundreds and thousands of visitors.
06:25Can you tell us then the importance of the cruise season to Qatar's tourism industry?
06:31Well, cruise season definitely is one of the most important aspects that contributes directly
06:37to the tourism in Qatar.
06:39The passenger numbers have been increasing from year to year.
06:43So for example, last year, last season, 23, 20, 24, we have reached about 360,000 passengers
06:54in that season.
06:55The forecast for this season, hopefully we will hit 400 plus.
07:03So since the redevelopment of Old Doha Port, it's been a host of many major events, including
07:09recently the Amarigo Vespucci, the Italian Navy ship, the Qatar Boat Show, the World
07:14Aquatics Championship, art festivals, fishing competitions, beach cleanups, so many things.
07:20What are some exciting events in the pipeline this year for Old Doha Port?
07:24Today we have the Doha Port considered as a home porting.
07:29This year we have started some of the trips that start from Qatar and takes a tour in
07:36the region and ends in Qatar as well.
07:39Capacity wise, definitely the terminal can accommodate two mega cruise ships simultaneously,
07:47which definitely was one of the reasons that contributed in reaching into the home porting
07:53objective.
07:58From flying high in a hot air balloon to cruising along the Doha skyline, it's no wonder why
08:03Qatar is a hot tourist destination.
08:06And if all the fun makes you a little sleepy, there are plenty of hotels to sit back and
08:11relax after the sun goes down.
08:14Just be warned, as Yow and Ahus found out, some of them are so unique that you'd wish
08:18you'd never have to fall asleep.
08:23With over 40,000 hotel rooms, Doha has no shortage of memorable places to stay.
08:28From modest accommodation to five-star luxury, Qatar's capital offers something for all visitors.
08:33But for those dreaming of a little adventure or silence and serenity, I've left the dazzling
08:39lights of the city behind to explore the country's roads less traveled and hit the hay in some
08:44of Qatar's extraordinary hotels.
08:47First stop on my rather bumpy ride is the Outpost Albarari, located in the Inland Sea
08:52Nature Reserve.
08:53As the name suggests, the outpost is hidden away, nestled in a sea of sand some 66 kilometers
08:59south of the hustle and bustle of Doha.
09:03So the Outpost Albarari is located in the southern part of Qatar, and it's unique for
09:07its wild wilderness, desert wilderness, and its fast dunes, which are meeting the Arabian
09:17Gulf.
09:18The design was inspired by the surrounding landscape, as well the sustainable architecture
09:24of the hotel.
09:25It's not just the hotel's surroundings of dancing dunes that instills a sense of wonder.
09:30As the sun sets and the desert descends into darkness, the sky above Outpost lights up.
09:36It's a little bit past my bedtime, but who needs sleep in a dreamy setting like this?
09:41And there's plenty to see here after dark, through the hotel's telescopes or at this
09:45outdoor cinema for a movie under the shooting stars.
09:49So whether it's the action on the big screen or the splendors of the universe above, I
09:52might be in for a sleepless night.
09:55New dawn, new day, and I'm out for a thrilling time in the dunes this morning.
10:00Outpost has plenty of activities on offer to get your heart racing.
10:04We offer a wide range of activities, which is related to the desert.
10:10We offer camel tours, we do buggy safaris, electric fat bike tours, and as well we offer
10:16a wide range of wellness activities and yoga classes.
10:21For a bit more peace and quiet, I've traveled to the UNESCO-protected Al Reem Biosphere
10:25Reserve on Qatar's western coast, home to our Habitas Rosa Brugue Hotel, a luxury resort
10:32that is all about connecting with nature.
10:34So it is one of those places you can absolutely switch off.
10:38We don't have any TV, so you absolutely disconnect again being within nature.
10:42And then you walk through, you have a beautiful sea line, you can enjoy the nice clean air
10:48around the sea, and then we do these beautiful concepts of sound healing around here, again
10:54using the natural elements that are given to us.
10:57I like to do sound healings with a different instrument, such as crystal balls, gong, different
11:04special sounds, and I like to choose different locations around our property.
11:11It's kind of a haven for reconnection, rejuvenation, and wellness journey to encourage self-exploration
11:19and empower positive impact.
11:23With so much natural beauty in this land of sea, sun, and sand, dreams come to life
11:27before you even get into bed.
11:30Once you do lay your head to rest, the comfort and tranquility of hotels like Outpost and
11:34our Habitas guarantee you'll wake up rested and relaxed.
11:42From glamping under the stars to sailing as far out where the sky meets the sea, we hope
11:46you've enjoyed this episode, but that's all the time we have for now.
11:49For more, check out euronews.com and connect with us through our hashtag.
11:53Thanks for watching, and we'll see you next time on Katar 365.
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