Doha, September 28 (QNA) - Qatar Chamber has explored opportunities to enhance investment cooperation in the tourism and hospitality sectors with the Austrian National Tourist Office (ANTO), focusing on the key incentives and facilities provided by both sides to stimulate mutual investments in Qatar and Austria.

The discussions took place during a meeting held Sunday at Qatar Chamber, chaired by Nasser bin Sulaiman Al Haider, QC Board Member, and Anni Lichtenegger, Director of the Travel Trade and Marketing Department at ANTO. The meeting was attended by HE Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to Qatar, Erika Bernhard, along with a number of business owners and representatives from Qatari companies.

The meeting discussed economic and trade relations between Qatar and Austria and explored ways to enhance them. It also reviewed the investment climate and opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sector, in addition to the key incentives and facilities offered by both sides to attract foreign investments.

Speaking at the meeting, Nasser Al Haider highlighted the significant growth of Qatar’s tourism and hospitality sector, noting that the accommodation and food services sector recorded a 13.8 percent increase, reflecting the rise in tourism activity across the country.

He added that preliminary data for the first half of 2025 indicate that Qatar welcomed about 2.6 million visitors, a 3 percent increase compared to the same period last year, with European countries accounting for 26 percent of the total visitors.

He further noted that the number of hotel rooms in Qatar reached 41,240 by the end of June 2025, with an average occupancy of 71 percent during H1, indicating that the demand for rooms totalled 5.23 million occupied nights over the same period, marking a 7 percent increase compared to H1 2024.

Al Haider also highlighted the strong relations between Qatar and Austria, pointing out that trade exchange between the two countries amounted to about QR 524 million in 2024, up from QR 503 million in the previous year, representing a growth of 4 percent.

He emphasised the pivotal role of business owners in developing and boosting trade exchange through enhanced cooperation, partnerships, and the establishment of trade alliances.

For her part, Annie Lichtenegger stated that the visit aims to promote various tourist destinations in Austria and to establish partnership agreements with Qatari business owners, as well as tourism and travel companies.

She added that Austrian companies are keen to develop cooperation with their Qatari counterparts and to attract Qatari tourists to new destinations in Austria, noting that the number of Qatari visitors to Austria has increased by 5 percent compared to previous years.

In turn, HE Ambassador Erika Bernhard emphasised the depth of relations between Austria and Qatar, noting that their ties have spanned 50 years and encompass all levels, particularly the commercial sector.

She highlighted the remarkable development in trade exchange and the shared desire to further expand cooperation.

HE the Ambassador added that more than 60 Austrian companies are active in the Qatari market, and that Austrian products enjoy the trust of the Qatari business community.

She also commended the Qatar Chamber for its role in enhancing trade and economic cooperation and for bringing businessmen and the private sectors of the two countries closer together. (QNA)