Held in Doha, on the 25-27 November, the Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) 2024 successfully concluded as a leading platform for shaping the global tourism landscape, with a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and transformative experiences. Bringing together global stakeholders, industry leaders, and innovators, QTM 2024 explored the evolving dynamics of travel and tourism, offering actionable insights and collaborative opportunities. A key highlight of QTM 2024 was the conference co-organized by the World Leisure Organization (WLO). With a focus on meaningful and future-ready tourism, the conference delivered insightful discussions, innovative strategies, and collaborative frameworks to redefine how the world travels and experiences destinations. We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our exceptional moderators –Joanne Schroeder, Marcel Bastiaansen, and Sandro Carnicelli– whose leadership and expertise were integral to the success of this ambitious endeavor.
Meaningful Tourism: Crafting Authentic Experiences
Day 1 of QTM 2024 underscored the importance of experiential and transformative tourism. Discussions centered on integrating cultural heritage and authentic storytelling into travel offerings. Experts emphasized that preserving local traditions and engaging communities are vital for crafting tourism experiences that resonate with visitors and drive year-round appeal.
Key strategies discussed included: Promoting cultural authenticity to create emotional and immersive travel connections, encouraging sustainable culinary tourism through farm-to-table practices and local gastronomy, and designing year-round attractions using innovative digital tools and targeted marketing to overcome seasonality.
The Future of Travel: Innovation, Technology, and Sustainability
Day 2 focused on shaping a resilient tourism industry through digital innovation, sustainability, and skills development. Cutting-edge tools such as AI, IoT, and CRM systems were highlighted for their role in enhancing traveler experiences, personalizing journeys, and supporting eco-friendly practices.
The role of community-based tourism took center stage as a key driver of sustainable growth. Experts showcased: How empowering local businesses and communities enhances authenticity and inclusivity; the need for lifelong learning and skills development to build a future-ready workforce, and strategies for mitigating climate change risks to protect cultural heritage assets and ensure tourism resilience.
Health, Wellness, and Sports Tourism: New Horizons
The final day of QTM 2024 explored the growing demand for wellness, health, and sports tourism. Qatar’s investment in world-class infrastructure, such as Aspire Zone and Zulal Wellness Resort, demonstrates its leadership in balancing modern offerings with cultural heritage. Discussions highlighted: The rise of medical and wellness tourism, driven by post-pandemic preferences for holistic, personalized travel; sports tourism as a driver of economic growth, fostering cultural exchange and enhancing Qatar’s global reputation, and community-based programs integrating sustainability, such as farm partnerships and wellness retreats.
The Conference organized at QTM 2024 – with WLO as a Conference partner –expanded on these emerging themes, with a spotlight on strategies to create transformative and future-ready tourism experiences. By uniting global thought leaders and fostering cross-sector collaboration, the Conference paved the way for actionable strategies to address the needs of travelers, businesses, and destinations in an increasingly dynamic tourism industry.
Stay tuned for the next edition of QTM (Doha, 24-26 November 2025), where global tourism leaders will continue to address emerging opportunities and challenges in this ever-evolving industry.
