QTA Wins Top Award in Amman

Doha, April 01 (QNA) - Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has won the Best Arab Government Tourism Authority 2015 Award presented by Arab Center for Tourist Media (ACTM), the authority said Tuesday. ACTM Chairman Hussain Al Mannai announced this at a press conference held in Amman. He also announced 20 other winners of the Arab tourism awards for 2015. QTA won the award based on official studies and statistics. Qatar recorded 27% Arab tourists, the highest percentage in Arab world, QTA said. A jury comprising academics and media experts evaluated nominees and selected winners based on strict norms. Commenting on this success, QTA Chairman Issa bin Mohammed Al-Mohannadi said, "We are proud of this award, an outcome of our commitment to the National Tourism Strategy 2030." Qatar welcomed more than 2.8 million visitors from all over the world in 2014, representing 8.2% growth over 2013, QTA said. Since 2009, international tourists to Qatar have increased by 75% with an average annual growth rate of 13.8%. Qatar attracted visitors from several GCC countries which contributed 40% of the tourist traffic in 2014. Around 28% visitors came from Asia and Oceania, while 15% came from Europe. Visits from all world regions have grown substantially over the past five years, with Asian and GCC visitor markets expanding by 107% and 102% respectively since 2009. Visitors from Europe surged 82% over the past five years. A group of Arab media leaders set up the ACTM award in Cairo in 2007 to encourage Arab tourism, QTA said. (QNA)