Qatar’s Tour Operators Prepare for World Cup Despite Safety Concerns for LGBTQ Fans
Photo Credit: An image of Qatar. Pixabay / LeafWriter
Skift Take
Although Qatari tourism officials are projecting a welcoming image for their country, it will take more than one more tournament to prove it. The answer would come with the treatment of LGBTQ visitors later on when Qatar is out of the spotlight.
Qatar has spent billions of dollars on its tourism infrastructure ever since it won the right 12 years ago to host soccer's FIFA World Cup in 2022. So how have tour operators been preparing to welcome the roughly 1.2 million fans expected to visit the country for the event that will run November 21 to December 18?
They've been creating new offerings and taking steps to accommodate as many visitors as possible while trying to navigate the myriad of controversies surrounding this year's event, including concerns regarding the safety of LGBTQ fans attending the tournament.
"We will be providing packages that we have (called) Road to FIFA," said Mubasshir Ali, the administration manager for Doha Transit & Tours, which will take guests to World Cup venues
