Qatar Tourism officials noted that property owners who bypass the process and rent their homes to vacationers without a licence risk receiving a prison sentence of up to two years and/or a QAR200,000.
In a statement, Tourism Licensing director Mohamed al-Ansari said: “The spirit of hospitality is a distinct feature of Qatari tradition. As we prepare to host visitors from every corner of the world for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, it is our chance to showcase our true essence. Qatar Tourism invites all residential property owners to share our spirit of hospitality while generating extra income from their unused units by simply getting a Holiday Homes licence. Steps and requirements needed for the licence are available on our website.”
Featured under the E-services section of the corporate website www.qatartourism.com, the Holiday Homes page offers the options for homeowners to either fill in a simple form to request a call back from the Qatar Tourism agents who assist in applying for a licence, or follow the steps described in the portal user guide to apply online.
Once the application is accepted, a team inspects the unit to finalise the process. The free-of-charge Holiday Homes licence is valid for five years and can be renewed to allow property owners to generate extra income by renting out their residential units for short-term use. It also gives them the opportunity to meet people from different cultures and celebrate Qatar’s tradition of hospitality.
To ensure that the visitors constantly get the best experience in the state, Qatar Tourism uses one of the leading Sentiment Analysis Technology in the hospitality industry to access a large number of guests reviews from more than 130 global platforms.
Being part of the hospitality sector, Holiday Homes should achieve a minimum score of 75% in guest satisfaction throughout the validity of the licence. Qatar Tourism will continue to monitor this score, giving the chance for those underperforming to take corrective measures; failure to do so will result in a cancellation of the licence.
Qatar Tourism boosts investment opportunities in the country’s growing hospitality sector, providing offerings that suit all visitors’ needs during and after the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar. To see all updates about the Holiday Homes license, visit the Qatar Tourism corporate website or call (974) 4499 7888 to directly connect with the Qatar Tourism Licensing Department.