Qatar is set to have a Tourism Satellite Account soon as part of the development goals of the recently signed agreement between Qatar Tourism Authority and United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). “By the end of next year, Qatar shall have an active and accurate Tourism Satellite Account, a global tourism accounting system,” said Tony Williams, Tourism Development Consultant, QTA. Approved by the UN in 2002, TSA provides reliable data on the impact of tourism on the nation’s economy and serves as a powerful instrument in designing economic policies on tourism development. Williams was speaking at a workshop by Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) titled “Breaking Down Barriers to Enhance Sustainability in the Hotel and Tourism Sector”, yesterday at Wyndham Grand Regency Hotel – Doha. QTA has signed a national-level cooperation agreement with the UNWTO in line with its thrust toward sustainable tourism development, said Williams. The agreement will develop a holistic approach to sustainable development through internal capacity building programmes on sustainable tourism, tourism management of biodiversity and habitat conservation, capacity building programmes on climate change mitigation and tourism management of heritage and sites, among others. Among the other development goals of the agreement, Williams mentioned were enhancing the country’s expertise in sustainable tourism development and developing a regulatory system which links hotels and tourism products to sustainable environmental practices. The two parties would also work on establishing development and operations guidelines for tourism products across protected areas, heritage and cultural sites as well as putting up tourism observatories to monitor tourism activity’s impacts on natural destinations. QTA is also developing “Brand Qatar” which showcases the country’s natural environments and wildlife, its heritage, history and culture and protects them for the future. Attended by senior QGBC and QTA officials as well as by representatives and pioneers from Qatar’s green industry and hospitality sector, the workshop was held to generate a roadmap for Qatar’s tourism and hospitality sector which, once endorsed, will be used as a tool to develop and improve the hospitality sector here. Source : Qatar Chronicle

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