In association with: Visit Qatar
Seven travel agents embarked on a fam trip to Qatar to dispel some myths about the destination
Visit travelweekly.co.uk/MythbustingQatar to watch a short series of videos to find out which myths about Qatar were dispelled
Looking out over the vast Inland Sea, the sun twinkles off the surface of the water and waves lap the sandy shore, with the cooling breeze a welcome complement to the warm sun. There aren’t many places where desert meets the sea – but Qatar is one of them.
Just an hour outside of capital Doha are lush mangroves where it’s possible to take a guided kayaking tour – an activity that the seven agents who embarked on their fam trip to Qatar in September did not expect.
Taking part in an adventure like this was just one of the myths that was dispelled on the trip. Can you drink alcohol here? Does the country welcome visitors? And is it expensive to visit? A video series entitled ‘Mythbusting Qatar: What do agents say?’, produced by Travel Weekly in partnership with Visit Qatar, answers these questions and more.
To watch these videos, head to travelweekly.co.uk/MythbustingQatar, and you’ll be taken to the dedicated Facebook playlist.
Direct to Doha
Flying to Qatar couldn’t be easier, with several direct flights every day, from five UK airports. Qatar Airways flies to Doha eight times a day from Heathrow, three times from Manchester, twice from Edinburgh and once from Gatwick and Birmingham. British Airways also operates one direct flight a day from Heathrow and Gatwick. With a journey time of under seven hours and only a three-hour time difference, your customers will soon find themselves in this exciting Middle Eastern destination.
What the agents say
“I’ve felt really welcomed in Qatar. The people are so friendly.” Emma Pearce, Designer Travel
“The food has been absolutely outstanding.”David Griffin, Travel Counsellors
“Don’t be worried about the dress code.”Lucie Jones, Travel Club Elite
“It’s great to get out of the city – you can go kayaking, which is just amazing.” David Evans, Hays Travel
To learn more about Qatar, sign up to the Qatar Specialist Programme at: qatartourism.com/en/travel-trade/qatar-specialist-programme
Hear more at: travelweekly.co.uk/MythbustingQatar
PICTURES: Qatar Tourism; Aflah P Hussain; Shutterstock/BGStock72