Promoting nature tourism – The Peninsula

Promoting nature tourism – The Peninsula

Last year, Qatar Tourism launched the country’s largest ever international tourism marketing campaign “Experience a World Beyond” in a push to become the fastest-growing tourism destination in the Middle East. A new, dedicated website and mobile app was launched to showcase the world-leading destination as the launch of more than 100 new hotels approaches in time for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Since the launch, Qatar tourism scene has grown tremendously. However, a part of the country’s tourism drive also includes its natural environments ranging from wetlands, natural areas, flora, fauna and other habitats.

In light of this, Qatar has taken advantage of the whale shark gathering, ensuring locals, residents and tourists can enjoy this natural phenomenon in a secured and controlled area – posing no harm or disruption to this habitat. Experts say that the most significant threat to whale sharks is habitat loss or degradation in the form of overfishing of reef fish, coastal development, land-based pollution, increased boat traffic and noise pollution.

Each year, hundreds of whale sharks congregate in the waters off the north east coast of Qatar from April to September. The coastal waters of Qatar provide the perfect location to see large numbers of Whale Sharks