CHAIRMAN: DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: DR. KHALID MUBARAK AL-SHAFI

Qatar

Foreign delegates get a glimpse of green Qatari architecture

Published: 30 Sep 2017 - 01:21 am | Last Updated: 08 Nov 2021 - 06:22 am
International delegates to the World Tourism Day 2017 celebrations with Qatari officials on board a traditional Arabian Dhow as part of the series of tours organised by Qatar Tourism Authority. 
Pic: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula

International delegates to the World Tourism Day 2017 celebrations with Qatari officials on board a traditional Arabian Dhow as part of the series of tours organised by Qatar Tourism Authority. Pic: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula

By Raynald C Rivera / The Peninsula

Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has showcased the country’s tourism sustainability efforts to World Tourism Day (WTD) 2017 international delegates through a tour to some of the most prominent green and sustainable structures and redeveloped buildings in the country.
In keeping with this year’s WTD theme ‘Sustainable Tourism — A Tool for Development’, the full-day tour held on Thursday provided the delegates a glimpse into Qatar’s vision of sustainable tourism and living through four separate technical tours.
The ‘Green Architecture’ tour focused on building guidelines and showcasing examples of sustainable architecture, where sustainability is central to the attractions. The delegates saw traditional Qatari architecture, blended with the latest in eco-friendly technologies.
The itinerary included visits to Msheireb Downtown Doha, said to be the world’s first smart and sustainable downtown regeneration project, designed to regenerate and preserve the historical heart of Doha and the Mohammed Bin Jassim House, which was originally the residence of the son of the founder of modern Qatar reconstructed focusing on the past, present and sustainable elements. They also visited Katara Cultural Village, whose projects are delivered to meet international and regionally recognized sustainable design and construction standards, as well as the Legacy Pavilion - Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, which tells the story of Qatar’s football history and Khalifa International Stadium, a cornerstone of the country’s sporting tradition hosting many regional and international sports tournaments.
The delegates explored the smart use of old buildings in Doha in ‘The Art of Creative Use’ tour in which they has an authentic taste of Souq Waqif’s long tradition in commerce, architecture and culture as they strolled down through its alleys. The Bin Jelmood House, an old house redeveloped into a museum which charts the history of the global slave trade, particularly in the Indian Ocean region, and the changes caused by its abolition, was also visited by the delegates.
The Fire Station Artist in Residence, the old Civil Defence building turned into a creative space that allows emerging talent from Qatar to practice, research and work as aspiring professional artists, was a highlight of this tour.
In ‘The Future of Sustainable Living’ tour, visitors journeyed to several landmarks in Doha that are aiming to meet the economic, environmental and socio-cultural needs for current and future generations. They included Qatar National Convention Centre, Qatar Science & Technology Park Qatar International Golf Club and Doha Golf Club.
The final tour was ‘The Protected-Beauty’ which included a trip on a traditional dhow to Al Aaliyah Island, one of the most preserved islands of Qatar is a tour to a number of unique faunas and floras and a chance to see Doha Skyline from the sea at night.
The series of tours wrapped up the activities which were part of the official WTD 2017 celebrations hosted by Doha, the highlight of which was a full-day forum which saw more than 20 international tourism luminaries speak on various subjects all related to sustainable tourism.
The celebrations also saw the unveiling of the Next Chapter of Qatar Tourism Sector Strategy which serves as the blueprint in the development of the country’s tourism sector in the next five years.