QATAR Airways and the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has signed a partnership agreement with visa processing services provider VFS Global to launch a new tourist visa application system.
The partnership enables QTA to better identify and implement visa solutions for its visitors, while capitalising on VFS Global’s expertise in developing multi-platform visa services, as well as Qatar Airways’ international footprint.
“Facilitating the visa application process is an important step in our drive to increase the number of visitor arrivals to Qatar, and in raising inbound tourism spending,” said Hassan Al Ibrahim, chief tourism development officer at QTA.
“This agreement is also testament to the public-private partnerships that are employed in the development of the sector, creating positive impacts across the tourism value chain and the broader economy.”
Zubin Karkaria, CEO of VFS Global said that new mobile and online channels for visa application will be added as part of the deal.
The parties will be collaborating over the next months to establish the new system proper before further details will be revealed. The steps taken are expected to increase Qatar’s openness ranking on the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index.
