Qatar National Tourism Council's Director of Exhibitions Ahmed Al Obaidli has been elected to the position of Deputy Chapter Chairperson for the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Middle East. This vote boosts Qatar's pivotal regional and international role in the MICE Industry and recognizes QNTC's longstanding efforts to push for the development of the business events industry locally and internationally.

ICCA is the global association leader for the international meetings industry, offering unrivaled data, education, communication channels, and business development and networking opportunities. Since its establishment in 1963, ICCA has represented the world's top destinations and most experienced suppliers specialized in handling, transporting, and accommodating international meetings and events. Its members include over 1,100 companies and organizations in almost 100 countries and territories, including five representing the State of Qatar.

Commenting on the occasion, Ahmed Al Obaidli of Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC), said: "I welcome this opportunity to thank members of the ICCA Middle East and I look forward to achieving ICCA objectives and supporting the business events industry in the region."

He added, "Qatar has placed the business events industry among the key tourism sectors designed to achieve sustainable tourism development. This is evident from the infrastructure that has been developed to support this sector as well as the expansion of convention and exhibition venues and the technology dedicated to the success of these events. Qatar has also elevated the sector by putting in place policies to support investment and by encouraging local and international companies to benefit from the many opportunities offered by the industry. Qatar seeks to enhance the tourism experience from beginning till the end, to elevate our status as a leading business events destination in the region."

QNTC's partnership with ICCA extends over many years. The council previously held a workshop in cooperation with the association aimed at empowering 60 members of the business events sector to attract international events.

Qatar has also more than 70,000 square meters of convention and exhibition grounds ready and equipped to handle any event, including the state-of-the-art Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) and Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), in addition to a large number of hotel conference halls, giving organizers a wide range of options to set up as many business events as possible at the same time and to create an active calendar of international and regional events for Qatar.

The country's business events sector has seen a remarkable expansion in recent years, growing 9 percent in 2018 and 44 percent over the last five years. Qatar is slated to host 10 major world events between 2019 and 2023, including the Small and Mid-sized Enterprise Forum 2020 and the World Symposium of Choral Music in 2023.

Source: Qatar News Agency
Image credit: National Tourism Council Qatar

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