An Analysis of Sustainability in Qatar's Tourism Development

This report examines sustainable tourism practices within Qatar's tourism sector. It begins with an introduction to sustainable tourism, emphasizing the balance between economic, socio-cultural, and environmental aspects. The report then explores the features of tourism development planning at international, national, regional, and sub-regional levels, highlighting the significance of interactive planning systems. It discusses methods for measuring tourist impact, including economic, environmental, and social measures, and addresses conflict resolution strategies to ensure the well-being of developing tourism destinations. Furthermore, the report analyzes the implications of balancing tourism demand and supply, as well as moral and ethical issues related to enclave tourism. Finally, it provides recommendations for the future development of sustainable tourism in Qatar, considering factors associated with tourism development and offering insights for long-term growth and sustainability.

SUSTAINABILITY

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
Covered in leaflet...................................................................................................................1
TASK 2...........................................................................................................................................1
2.1. Features of tourism development planning at different levels .......................................1
2.2 Significance of interactive planning system and process in tourism development..........2
2.3 Different methods available to measure tourist impact....................................................3
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................4
Covered in PPT.......................................................................................................................4
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................4
4.1 Methods of resolving conflicts of interests to ensure future well-being of developing
tourism destination.................................................................................................................4
4.2 Implication of balancing demand and supply...................................................................5
4.3 Moral and ethical issues of enclave tourism.....................................................................6
TASK 5............................................................................................................................................7
5.1 Factors associated with tourism development..................................................................7
5.2 Recommendations for future development of tourism.....................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Sustainable tourism refers to the process of establishing a suitable balance between
economic, socio-cultural and environmental aspect for minimizing the negative impact of
tourism activity over environmental and local culture. Tourism activities in a country is very
essential as it provide an opportunity to earn foreign exchange. This project is based over Qatar,
a country with rich culture and history (Bhamra and Lofthouse, 2016). This assignment includes
explanation of shareholder's benefit from planning tourism development along with advantages
and disadvantage. It further discuss about features of tourism development planning at different
level and methods to measure the tourist impact. This project also includes implication of
balancing supply and demand as well as moral & ethical issues of enclave tourism. In addition to
this comparison between issues associated with emerging destination and developing country as
well as recommendations for future development of tourism.
TASK 1
Covered in leaflet
TASK 2
2.1. Features of tourism development planning at different levels
Development process beings with the recognition of options that are available for further
enhancement. For successfully designing and implementing the development plan its is very
essential to have a clear understanding of development objectives required to achieve at different
levels (Bosselmann, 2016). There are basically four levels in tourism development planning in a
country and its feature to support planning of other level are explained below:-
International:- These organisations work toward promoting the policies to improve the
economic and social well-being of people across the globe. International tourism organisations
coordinating with government with aim to identify the forces that bring changes in economic,
social and environmental factors to improve tourism and destination attraction (Bruenig, 2016).
QTA measures productivity and global flow of investment as well as trade to analyse &compare
data for predicting future trend.
National:- These organisations are both public as well as private under the control of
government, national volunteer or private organisation associate with government. Main aim of
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Qatar Tourism Authority is to promote Qatar all over the world to increase number of visitors to
country and to make it more attractive destination.
Regional:- These organisations have the capability to create and develop attraction in
destinations by integrating different strategies to promote business. Regional plans are limited to
cities and particular destination (Clark, Feiner and Viehs, 2015). At this level Qatar generally
focuses on formulating strategies related to marketing and promotion of location to attract large
number of visitors.
Sub regional:- Main feature of this level is that it work with regional and national level
organisation to promote and protect the attraction and destination. At this level Qatar handles
strategic development and situational plan by collecting data from different level.
These levels are independent but are interrelated that support in formulating plan for
developing tourism sector that provide higher sustainability and growth in this sector.
2.2 Significance of interactive planning system and process in tourism development
Qatar host various promotional events in order to promote and gain attention of people
around the world. Country is planning to host World Athletics Championships and various
countries are participating in this event. So, the reputation of Qatar is at risk because each
country has its own expectation related to the arrangements done by host nation. At this
development, interactive planning is very essential for successful implementation of plan and
execution of event. Interactive planning refers to a system which allows regular monitoring,
evaluation and modification of plans in order to respond to changes by involving stakeholder in
planning process (Fernandez-Feijoo, Romero and Ruiz, 2014). This process suggest that there
must be collaborative, co-operative and participatory planning for better decision making. This
help in eliminating the complexity of process so that plan could be implemented effectively. It
also support in controlling the impact of tourism over environment, culture, society etc.
By implementing interactive planning in tourism development process, Qatar will be able
to provide right product according to the need of customer. Importance of interactive planning
process are as follows:
 Interactive planning help in ensuring that all the level of organisation, community and
tourist must involve By Qatar Tourism authority in planning process so that over
spending and negative impact on community can be minimized.
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 This planning also provide an opportunity to stakeholder to participate in decision
making process.
 Interactive planning is a continuous process that involve modification of plan according
to changes which provide better result by minimizing future uncertainty.
 It also support Qatar in interacting with tourists effectively for tourism services by using
some promotional methods or advertisements to persuade customers and making them
aware about tourist services available.
 It help Qatar in designing the efficient services according to the demand and preferences
of market segment.
2.3 Different methods available to measure tourist impact
Development of tourism industry is largely affected by the way in which activities are
performed and managed. These activities have an impact over different factors like social,
environmental and economical which can be positive or negative (Geissdoerfer and et. al., 2017).
But QTA is responsible for making sure that the impact must be positive so that Qatar as well as
local community will be positively benefited from these tourism activities. Main aim of
planning process is to identify and evaluate whether the objective is being fulfilled or not by
measuring impact over these factors. Following are the methods through which impact can be
measure:
Economic measure:- The tourism development planning is mainly connected with the
economic prosperity, so measure in tourism impact is associated with economy. By using
economic modelling process known as STEAM (Scarborough Tourism Economic Activity
Monitor). This model uses quantity data such as number of visitor, visitor expenditure level,
income generation, occupancy rate etc. to find out the trends and changing demand of visitors. It
identify the impact of tourism activities over the economy of country which can be further use by
government of Qatar to plan and analyse the finance required for further development. But it
doesn't consider the environmental damage which happens due to various tourism activities.
Environmental measure:- Activities related to tourism development has direct impact
over the environment in which these changes have implemented. These impact can be positive or
negative. By proper planning and monitoring the negative impact can be minimize which
promote better growth and sustainability (Grey and Tarascon, 2017). For measuring the
environmental impact EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) model can be used. It help in
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evaluating the impact that a particular activity have over environment and damage occur over it.
By using this model QTA can measure the environmental impact on tourism for avoiding future
risk and ecological imbalance but this setback fails to determine the economic benefit which
have been derived out of tourism activities (James, 2014). EIA process must be performed by the
tourism industry of Qatar at early stage of tourism development which help in avoiding
environmental damage.
Social measure:- Socio-cultural impact of tourism are difficult to measure because it is
highly qualitative and subjective in nature. It nature of social impact can be measure by
collecting data related to safety level of tourist, crime rate, infrastructure, type of disease etc. In
order to collect information related to social impact measurement there are mainly two methods
i.e. primary and secondary (Junior, Best and Cotter, 2014). Primary research includes survey,
interview etc., and secondary research includes collecting information through newspapers,
internet, governmental record etc.
TASK 3
Covered in PPT
TASK 4
4.1 Methods of resolving conflicts of interests to ensure future well-being of developing tourism
destination
Several conflicts may arises while performing operations as travel and tourism industry is
highly competitive sector where trends keep on changing daily. The level of competition may be
little bit higher at country like Qatar due to limited availability of resources (Martínez-Jurado and
Moyano-Fuentes, 2014). These conflicts may arises due to differences in the interest of
stakeholders or it may be related with the conversation of natural resources. So in order to
eliminate the conflicts following are the factors that must be consider by tourism operators for
keeping stakeholders and local people satisfied: Stakeholder satisfaction:- The interest and will of stakeholders in tourism activities are
also responsible for creating conflicts. As if tourist are not satisfied with hospitality
services in Qatar then it will affect the profit of tourism industry at large extend and
create problem in developing international stand.
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 Stakeholder engagement:- Tourism operator must consider the goals and preferences of
stakeholders while formulating strategies related to future actions (Noorman and
Uiterkamp, 2014). They must also involve stakeholders in planning and decision making
process in order to perform activities according to the their demand. As avoidance of this
may create conflicts that might result in heavy loss to company.
These are the factors that must be consider by tourism operators in Qatar in order to
eliminate the conflicts that may arise in travel and tourism industry. Apart from this there are
certain methods that can be used by QTA in order to resolve the conflicts which are as given
below: Negotiation:- It is one of the most widely used method to solve conflicts by promoting a
clear communication interaction between parties involve (Pezzey and Toman, 2017). This
method suggest that parties must interact with one another for negotiation purpose in
order to identify a solution that create win-win situation for both the parties.
 Mediation:- Under this method both the parties participate in conflicts actively and
discuss the matter. These comments are then judge by Qatar Tourism Authority which act
as a mediator to find out a better solution. Main drawback of using this method is that
sometimes it become difficult for mediator to ensure fair judgement to both the parties
due to adverse situation. But it is helpful too, as it provide various option to be perform in
particular situation and best one is selected without compromising.
4.2 Implication of balancing demand and supply
A balance between demand and supply is very essential in tourism industry as imbalance
may create certain difficulties in operating business activities effectively and satisfying
customers. As when the demand is more than supply because of increase in number of visitors
their may be overbooked hotel and delayed of flights that create more dissatisfaction. Similarly,
when supply is more than demand it will minimize the profit earned by company (Pugh, 2014).
Therefore the balance between the supply and demand is very essential for preserving the natural
activities at Qatar as demand for green tourism is rapidly increasing. There are various methods
through which the balance between demand and supply in tourism sector can be managed that
are given below: Imposition of limits:- In order to manage a balance between demand and supply, it is
very essential for travel as well as tourism industry of Qatar to impose some limitation
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over their services. For instance, they can set a limit over number of visitors allowed to
come in particular time or limitation the tickets or hotel booking (Schaltegger and
Wagner, 2017). This help in avoiding the overcrowding situation, as it make harder for
tourism operator to provide services effectively.
 Seasonality arrangements:- Tourism demand in some seasons like summer & winter
vacations, Christmas, New year etc. is generally higher. For instance, Qatar welcomed
more than 864,444 number of visitors in first quarter of year 2017 at the time of their
shopping festival which provide hospitality and entertainment offers (Qatar Tourism
Analysis, 2018). For this season Qatar government must mange the services according to
the demand of customers. They must employ extra employees for providing better
services to tourist. On the other hand government of Qatar must also construct or arrange
extra hotels for balancing the demand of tourist. This help in avoiding the chances of
overcrowding and overbooking as it directly affect the goodwill of company.
4.3 Moral and ethical issues of enclave tourism
Enclave tourism is an act performed over a small geographical area with the aim to
satisfy the need of visitors by allowing them to get entire experience of their travel intention at
one place without moving or travelling to different places. Main reason behind opting enclave
tourism is to generate maximum profit by minimizing the expenses over facilities and providing
expected experience to visitors at one place. Large organisation related to travel and tourism
industry is not implementing this strategy in their services which provide maximum benefit
without spending much.
Various foreign tourism organisations are now entering in Qatar tourism sector with lots
of resources and assets that provide a tough competition to domestic enterprises. Further they are
blocking the domestic companies from market as these small tourists don't have adequate
resources to compete with them and because of which they are not able to contribute toward the
economy of Qatar. This is the main issue faced by government which is not consider as an
ethical activity (Tukker and et. al., 2017). Apart from this local community of Qatar will not get
any sort of benefit because of enclave tourism, as this strategy limit the accessibility to different
places and tourism organisation are using this to rule over an area with the aim to maximize their
benefit. Another ethical issue faced by Qatar is tourism enterprises are taking licence in an
unethical manner with an aim to expand their business for attracting more customers. Apart from
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this capturing the land for their business and limiting the resources such as water, land and
forests for local is one of the major moral issue faced in Qatar. In addition to this these
organisation provide employment at lower income which also an immoral practice faced by
people in that nation.
Therefore, enclave tourism is beneficial for tourism organisation but its practices involve
some ethical issue which may affect the economy of country (Voß and Kemp, 2015). It also
hamper the culture as well as environment of county. In order to avoid these unethical practices
it is very essential for QTA to form some tourism policies and strategies which support in
protecting the interest of country as well as local tourism companies.
TASK 5
5.1 Factors associated with tourism development
Tourism sector is influenced by various factors that affect the development of tourism
sectors in developing countries like Mexico and emerging destination Qatar. A comparison given
in below table between Qatar as a emerging tourist destination and Mexico as developing
country shows various differences on account of problem associated with tourism development.
Basis of comparison Qatar Mexico
Environmental Oil conversion is one of the
major activity performed within
Qatar which largely affect the
environment of country (Wals,
2014). It creates air, land and
water pollution which is
continuously damagess the
natural wildlife heritages. This is
one of major environmental
faced by Qatar in tourism
development.
Mexico is well known tourism spot
due to the beauty of country, this
leads to development of various
tourist organisations to enhance the
tourism services. But expansion of
business destroy forest and other
natural spots which largely affect the
environment of country.
Economic After boycott done by Iran
through blocking the Strait of
Hormuz affected the trade of
Establishment of various foreign
tourism organisations in Mexico
restrict the local companies to earn
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country. This largely affect the
economy of country and apart
from this due to establishment of
foreign tourism companies
capturing the share of domestic
tourism organisation. Because of
this domestic tourism players
generally fails to contribute
toward economical growth of
country.
foreign currency which affect the
economical growth of country.
Socio-cultural Major of people lives in Qatar
are belongs to Islamic religion
and because of which they
sometimes fails to cater visitors
effectively which belongs to
different culture. As Islamic
people don't have adequate
knowledge related to other
religions.
Due to integration of different
culture invited several unethical and
legal practices such as child labour
for fulfilling the demand of visitors.
This is the major issue which affect
the culture of country.
5.2 Recommendations for future development of tourism
Qatar is an emerging tourism destination which put several effort toward improving the
services provided to visitor in order to attract large number of tourism in country. There are
number of strategies and schemes are determined above which support Qatar in improving their
tourism sector. Further, government must also formulate certain policies and actions for tourists
such as tax payment, exchange rate and many others (Winter and Koger, 2014). It will support
toward removing the negative impact over economy and also support in eliminating the social
problems. Weaker infrastructure and facilities is the biggest drawback that may affect the
tourism sector growth. So, QTA must work toward improving the destination to make them more
attractive.
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Apart from this sustainable tourism depict the activities as well as decisions taken to
remove the negative impact over tourism. It is very essential for both the countries whether it is
developing or emerging tourism destination so that income opportunities can be balanced and
safety of environment get assured (Wolf, 2014). Some major factors like social, economical and
environmental factor must be focused by Qatar in order to increasing positive outcome of
tourism practices. Following are the recommendations for Qatar and Mexico:-
 Both the countries are required to formulate strategies and impose certain restrictions
over unethical practices in order safe the culture and minimize the negative impact over
socio-cultural environment of country.
 For reducing the environmental impact it is very essential for both the countries to
encourage minimum wastage of natural resources and actions must be taken to limit the
pollution (Wu and et. al., 2015).
 Both the countries are required to provide equal chance to foreign as well as domestic
tourism industry and must impose restriction over the establishment of foreign tourism
companies to promote economic prosperity.
CONCLUSION
From the above given report it can be concluded that tourism is one of the fastest growing
sector which contribute toward the economical growth of country. Economical, social and
environmental factor are some major consideration that support toward the development of
tourism sector. There are some practices that support toward the sustainability in tourism sector
which includes fiscal policies, proper utilisation of resources and participation of business
people. The development of tourism support in achieving competitive advantage and also help in
improving foreign exchange which strengthen the economy of country.
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Online
Qatar Tourism Analysis. 2018. [Online]<http://www.visitqatar.qa/corporate/planning/data-and-
statistics.html>./
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