00:05After months of turbulence across regional airspace, Qatar's tourism sector says the
00:10country is open for business once again. Speaking to Euronews, Visit Qatar's CEO says the country
00:16went through one of its most difficult periods in recent history, but worked closely with
00:20embassies, airlines and tourism partners to support stranded travelers and restore confidence
00:26in a destination that welcomed 5 million visitors last year. Tourism officials say more than 12,000
00:32international visitors and transit passengers were impacted during the regional crisis earlier
00:37this year. A 24-hour hotline was launched alongside WhatsApp updates and social media alerts as
00:43authorities coordinated repatriation efforts through Hamad International Airport.
00:47We've been through a difficult time. I'll be very honest with you, it was a difficult time that we
00:51had never been through before. But I always remind myself with the period of COVID where we passed
00:56it through a difficult time, but we passed it stronger than before, more resilience. We announced
01:01space extension as well as free stay in the hotels with free meals for all of our travelers and guests
01:07by that time because we want all to ensure that our guests are a guest in our home. Now Qatar
01:13is pushing
01:14ahead with a tourism recovery campaign centered around summer festivals, beach activities and family
01:19entertainment, before shifting focus towards international visitors later in the year.
01:24Abdulaziz Al Malawi says the country is hoping its mix of luxury tourism, cultural experiences and
01:30major international events will help drive momentum into a busy winter season.
01:35Qatar is back to normal and we can always reassure that Qatar is always safe and secure. Qatar has been
01:43always known for the unique products where we bring together culture, heritage as well as the modernity.
01:49You can enjoy diving with the whale shark as well as going to the safari, having a fine dining, shopping
01:54experience, hotel experience, beachfront, all at the same day. So we always say that Qatar is the home of our
02:02guests
02:02from all over the world.
02:04Visit Qatar says it will continue investing in digital visitor experiences, business travel and international events
02:11as it looks to strengthen its position as one of the region's leading tourism destinations.
02:16Adil Alim, Euronews, Doha.
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