The Qatar Chamber discussed with the Austrian National Tourism Authority opportunities to enhance investment cooperation in the tourism and hospitality sector, and the most important incentives and facilities provided by the two sides to stimulate mutual investments in Qatar and Austria.
This came during a meeting held in the Qatar Chamber, today, headed by Mr. Nasser bin Suleiman Al Haidar, a member of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Chamber, Mrs. Annie Lieginger, Director of the Trade and Marketing Department for Traveling at the Austrian National Tourism Authority, in the presence of His Excellency Mrs. Arika Bernhard, Austrian Federal Republic of Austria, and a number of business owners and representatives of Qatari companies.
During the meeting, the economic and commercial relations between the State of Qatar and the Federal Republic of Austria and the ways of enhancing them took place.
Mr. Nasser bin Sulaiman Al Haidar said that the tourism and hospitality sector is witnessing significant growth in the State of Qatar, where the residence and food services sector witnessed a growth of 13.8 percent, which reflects the increase in tourism activity in the State of Qatar, pointing out that the preliminary results for the first half of this year indicate Qatar’s reception of about 2.6 million visitors, an increase of 3 percent compared to the similar period of last year, and European countries have acquired 26 percent of Qatar visitors.
He added that the number of hotel rooms increased to 41,240 key at the end of June 2025, and the average occupancy reached 71 percent during the first half, and the demand for the rooms reached 5.23 million occupancy nights during the same period, recording a 7 percent increase compared to the first half of 2024.
He pointed out that the volume of trade exchange between Qatar and Austria amounted to about 524 million Qatari riyals in the year 2024 compared to 503 million riyals in the previous year with a growth of 4 percent, stressing the role of business owners to develop and increase the rates of trade exchange, by enhancing cooperation and partnership and establishing commercial alliances.
He affirmed the constant keenness of the Qatar Chamber to support businessmen and investors wishing to invest in the Qatari market, and to provide all information and facilities that contribute to enhancing economic cooperation, and encouraging investment initiatives that contribute to developing the private sector and developing the business environment in the State of Qatar.
For her part, Mrs. Annie Lesteinger, director of the Trade and Marketing Department of Travel at the Austrian National Tourism Authority, said that the Austrian delegation includes representatives of the major tourism companies in Austria, expressing its aspiration to signing partnership contracts with Qatari business owners and tourism and travel companies.
She added that the Austrian companies are interested in developing cooperation with their counterparts in Qatar, and working to attract Qatari tourists to new destinations in Austria.
In turn, His Excellency Mrs. Erika Bernhard, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Austria, affirmed the depth of relations between the State of Qatar and Austria 50 years ago, which includes all levels, especially commercial fields, where trade exchange between the two countries witnesses a remarkable development and there is a desire for the two sides to increase the volume of cooperation.
She added that there are more than 60 Austrian companies operating in the Qatari market, and that the Austrian products have the confidence of the Qatari business community, as well as the role of the Qatar Chamber in enhancing commercial and economic cooperation and approximation between businessmen and the private sector in the two countries.
