The impending FIFA World Cup is set to drastically lift the prospects for Qatar’s tourism, transport, hospitality and catering sectors with the country expected to witness annual visitors reach the pre-pandemic levels of 2mn this year, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“If the pandemic subsides as expected, the World Cup will be the first major sport event with a large number of spectators, likely to benefit from the pent-up demand,” the IMF said in its Article IV consultation with Qatar.
The World Cup, which is seen as a major growth driver in the near term, could spur visitors’ interest in Qatar, bringing benefits beyond the event itself, it said.
Reportedly, up to 1.2-1.5mn visitors are expected, which could help bring the number of annual visitors closer to pre-pandemic levels of about 2mn, accelerating the recovery of tourism, transportation, hospitality, and catering sectors, which were hit the hardest by the pandemic, it said.
The potential contribution to…