Timeline of Milestones December 2013 - Launch of #MyQatar, a nationwide campaign that asks the people of Qatar to share what they cherish most about the country; kick-starting the process of developing Qatar’s first destination brand.

February 2014 - Launch of Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030, which charts a pathway for developing a sustainable tourism sector and increasing its contribution to the national GDP.

May 2014 - Hamad International Airport formally opens, with an initial capacity of 30 million passengers.

February 2015 – QTA signs MoU with Qatar Development Bank and Qatar Business Incubation Center (QBIC) to launch first specalised incubator for tourism start-ups and scale-ups.

May 2015 - Qatar hosts first meeting between undersecretaries of tourism ministers and authorities in the Gulf Cooperation Council.

September 2015 - Qatar wins right to host official UNWTO World Tourism Day 2017 celebrations.

October 2015 – Doha Exhibition and Convention Center opens its doors, adding 29,000 m2 to Qatar’s Business Events infrastructure.

November 2015 - Qatar’s first destination brand is unveiled at World Travel Market, London, accelerating efforts to promote the country as a premium destination.

November 2015 - Island Sky, a Noble Caledonia ship, becomes the first to dock in the Old Doha Port as part of the Cruise Arabia Alliance.

January 2016 – QTA introduces a new grading and classification system for hotels, which, among other new categories, will include an environmental sustainability element.

April 2016 – Qatar’s hospitality sector tops GCC in Guest Experience Index in the Middle East report, published by Olery