A traditional dhow boat moored in the water in front of residential and commercial skyscrapers in Doha. About 1.2 million fans are expected to descend upon the tiny Gulf state for this year’s Fifa World Cup event. — Bloomberg
Qatar is gearing up for a World Cup tourism boom as the tiny Gulf state prepares to welcome more than a million soccer fans. One complication: Many of them can’t or won’t stay there.
An accommodation squeeze and low tolerance for alcohol and partying in the conservative Muslim nation means tens of thousands of fans will base themselves in nearby countries for the month-long tournament. Match-day flights from major Middle Eastern cities will shuttle spectators to games, benefiting airlines, hotels and hospitality venues across nations including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
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