Doha, August 31 (QNA) – Qatar’s air-conditioned parks, markets and spaces have become a prominent tourist destination in the past few years, attracting a large number of tourists, citizens and residents looking for entertainment services and experiences different from those available in closed spaces, especially during the summer season.

Qatar has succeeded in harnessing technological progress to offer a real solution regarding the high temperatures in the summer and mitigate their impact during the summer by making many of its outdoor spaces and venues air-conditioned, a new dimension added to the list of tourism options in Qatar and promoted its competitive capabilities.

In statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), specialists stressed the role that these markets and air-conditioned spaces have begun to play in attracting tourists, especially during the summer season, in line with families’ desire to expand their options and not limit them to traditional entertainment venues and closed spaces.

They pointed out that a number of foreign tourists have begun to choose Qatar as a destination during the summer in light of the wider tourism options including the availability of spaces that bring together luxury with Qatari traditions and customs such as those in Katara Cultural Village, Souq Waqif, or those with their world’s class designs and architecture as well as air-conditioned public parks.

Director of the Parks Department at the Ministry of Municipality Mohammed Al Sada told QNA that air-conditioned parks are part of the advanced infrastructure in Qatar and are designed to adapt to the hot climate in the country, and they aim to improve the quality of life by providing a comfortable environment for citizens, residents and tourists even in the hottest summer days.

He added that air-conditioned parks are a comfortable venues for families and individuals to entertain themselves, enjoy green spaces and practice various sports without being exposed to extreme heat.

Al Sada pointed out that these parks have cooling systems designed and implemented according to the highest sustainability standards such as Umm Al Seneem Park, which features 1.143km air-conditioned track and holds the Guinness Book of World Records.

Al Gharafa Park has also an air-conditioned path of 657 meters long, and a new park called Rawdat Al Hamama Park will be opened soon.

He pointed out that the air-conditioned parks in the State of Qatar are among the first spaces launched in the world and attracted a number of visitors from inside and outside Qatar, contributing to strengthening the country’s position in the field of innovation and sustainability and employing them to serve the diversification of the economic fabric, especially in the tourism sector.

For his part, Director of Public Relations and Communication at Katara Salem Al Marri, said in a statement to QNA, said that Katar’s air-conditioned street is the first air-conditioned track in the world. The concerned authorities in the country have been working on the project since 2009 to be a venue for its visitors during the summer, known for high temperatures. It has succeeded in attracting a number of visitors from inside and outside Qatar and contributes to enhancing the field of innovation and modern technologies and employing them to serve the diversification of the economic fabric, especially in the tourism sector.

The Director of Public Relations and Communication at Katara pointed out that the air-conditioned open-air attractions have become a key element of Qatar’s tourism appeal, complemented by the country’s tourism sector’s other distinctive features, he continued by using Katara as an example of an attractive destination with a unique architectural style, enriched by an array of events and activities, all together contribute to an outstanding Qatari identity and appeal that increasing attract more visitor, particularly tourists seeking a blend of entertainment and culture in a refreshing summery environment. Al Marri noted that all this undoubtedly helped highlight Qatar’s image as a tourist destination capable of adapting to climatic changes and offering a tourism product that respects Qatari traditions and heritage. He considered this dual aspect sets the Qatari tourism sector apart, which should be further enhanced given the stereotypical image prevalent in several international tourism markets. For his part, Al Emadi Enterprises CEO Mohammed Abdul Karim Al Emadi told QNA that open-air commercial spaces, along with Qatar’s entertainment and tourism projects, contribute to attracting tourists, especially during summer vacations. Al Emadi added that 80 percent of Gulf tourists visit Alhazm Mall to shop and enjoy its dining services and exhibitions held throughout the year, especially that it is fully air-conditioned venue. The Al Emadi Enterprises CEO said that Alhazm Mall is one of the ideal places in Qatar to enjoy shopping and spending time with family and friends, noting that it is among the largest projects in the Middle East, which offers a well-rounded luxury experience of art and culture in a fully air-conditioned environment. Doha also features several air-conditioned parks, spaces, and streets, including Al Gharafa Park, Umm Salal Mohammed Park, Souq Waqif, Galeries Lafayette, Alhazm Mall, the Dancing Fountains area at Place Vendome Mall, Lusail Boulevard, and West Walk. In turn, tourism specialist Ahmed Hussein told QNA about the role air-conditioned open-air venue play in boosting and diversifying tourism activities, attracting tourists to these spots and enabling them to enjoy their services, restaurants, events, and entertainment activities. He estimated that there has been a 30 to 40 percent increase in the number of tourists visiting these open, air-conditioned spaces compared to other closed or air-conditioned spaces. Hussein said that Qatar managed to successfully attract a new segment of tourists to Doha specifically for shopping, by establishing infrastructure for open-air markets and air-conditioned streets. He added that travel specialists now promote these destinations that are becoming increasingly popular among tourists and families who seek to shop and enjoy vacations in open, air-conditioned spaces, as opposed to the closed environments they are accustomed to. Hussein noted that air-conditioned open spaces have become part of Qatar’s infrastructure, which also includes world-class hotels and commercial spaces. He pointed out that expanding such projects in the country will help attract more tourists during the summer season, making tourism-related sectors more economically dynamic. (QNA)