Hamad International Airport in Doha has launched its biggest Summer in Qatar program yet, with a range of activities and entertainment designed to give travelers a taste of local culture.
The program, run in collaboration with Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC), Qatar Airways and Qatar Duty Free, is part of a larger strategy aimed at enriching and diversifying the country’s tourism offering, particularly in terms of family and urban entertainment.
The Heritage Zone in Concourse B will feature a wide range of activities based on Qatari culture and hospitality, such as demonstrations of calligraphy and henna tattoos. Passengers will also have the chance to see cultural handicraftsmen at work, among them prayer bead producers, basket weavers and pearl jewelry makers. Live performances will include the Horse Dance, a traditional dance performed in a horse-shaped box decorated with colored cloth, beads and gold jewelry.
The Summer in Qatar activities in Concourse C will include a dedicated Kids Zone, where a variety of activities will be offered for children of all ages, such as yoga, kite and paper plane making, as well as a giant painting wall where children can showcase their creativity.
Badr Mohammed Al Meer, chief operating officer at Hamad International Airport, said of the program, “This is the gateway to the State of Qatar and it is important that we give passengers a chance to experience Qatar’s expanding entertainment and culture.
“The Summer in Qatar activities are strategically located across the terminal to ensure all travelers get to enjoy and participate in the activities offered. Most importantly, we hope it gives everyone a taste of Qatar’s unparalleled hospitality and authentic experiences.”
Transfer passengers spending more than five hours at the airport have the opportunity to visit Qatar and experience more of its Summer in Qatar festivities through a stopover program.
More than seven million passengers are forecasted to travel through Qatar’s hub during the summer peak period (July and August 2019). The second quarter of 2019 was the busiest Q2 period for the airport since it began operations in 2014.