Qatar’s tourism awards goes global

“Qatar’s tourism awards programme is setting new standards beyond its borders, with European and GCC nations expressing interest in replicating the initiative's successful framework, a senior UN Tourism official said as the fourth edition of the Qatar Tourism Awards launched its submission period yesterday. Open for entries until September 16, the awards programme, developed jointly by Qatar Tourism (QT) and UN Tourism since 2023, has expanded to 37 categories this year and is increasingly being viewed as a model for advancing tourism excellence and hospitality standards. Jaime Mayaki, director of International Development and Cooperation at UN Tourism, said the initiative has generated interest from countries seeking to learn from Qatar's approach to tourism development. “This is a programme that has also helped emulate interests from other countries, not only in the region, but also in Europe as well,” Mayaki said, noting that Croatia had recently sought insights into Qatar's methodology. “We believe that this is a key initiative, and we're very proud to deepen this partnership with Qatar Tourism,” he added. One of the most significant additions this year is the introduction of the “Outstanding Qatar Vlog” category under the digital storytelling segment, reflecting the growing influence of content creators in promoting destinations and shaping travel decisions. As part of its commitment to enhancing accessibility and improving the applicant experience, QT also launched a new QT Awards application portal in collaboration with the Hayya Platform. The upgraded portal offers a more streamlined and user-friendly application process, featuring simplified profile creation, intuitive navigation and enhanced functionality. The platform enables applicants to submit and manage their entries more efficiently throughout the awards cycle, making participation easier and more accessible than ever. Omar Abdulrahman al-Jaber, Chief of the Tourism Development Sector at QT, said the category marks a strategic expansion of the awards by opening participation to content creators both inside and outside Qatar. “We are looking to receive many of the vlogs, which are taking Qatar to a different level and showing the touristic area in Qatar,” al-Jaber said. He expects the new category to attract a substantial increase in submissions. Previous editions received about 1,200 applications, which were narrowed to around 300 finalists for evaluation. “By adding the new category, I believe that we will receive many applications, especially from outside Qatar,' he said. Mayaki highlighted the value of travel vlogs in offering authentic perspectives that resonate with audiences more effectively than traditional promotional campaigns, particularly during major events. “Travel vlogs are extremely popular nowadays, people have a huge interest in looking at them, listening to them and seeing firsthand an experience from a normal traveller,” he said. “We want to recognise also all the work, all the knowledge and all the influencers that have done a lot for the promotion of Qatar.” To support prospective applicants, QT will host a series of educational workshops throughout the submission period, offering guidance on profile creation, registration requirements, eligibility criteria and application best practices. Participants will also have access to dedicated assistance throughout the awards cycle via QT’s 106 contact centre, where they can seek support and submit enquiries related to the application process. According to QT, the awards are designed to encourage continuous improvement across the tourism sector by promoting innovation, service quality and operational excellence. Officials say the programme has become an important tool for strengthening collaboration between public and private stakeholders while reinforcing Qatar's position as a leading destination for tourism innovation.

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