Lights Go Green for the Grand Prix of Qatar

Partnership with QTA adds horsepower for future years

For the tenth consecutive year, Qatar will host the first round of the MotoGP World Championship under the brilliant floodlights of the Lusail International Circuit. The Grand Prix of Qatar, the only night race on the calendar and the first to kick off the international race season, will be held at the Lusail Circuit Sports Club (LCSC) this weekend from 23rd to 26th March.rnTo join in welcoming the eyes of the motorsport world onto Qatar, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has entered a two-year partnership with LSCS to host the annualevent. The partnership will leverage the MotoGP’s international profile and media exposure to raise interest and grow the number of international visitors coming to Qatar for the annual event in 2018 and beyond.rnCommenting on the partnership, Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chief Tourism DevelopmentOfficer at QTA said, “Over the years, MotoGP has earned its position as one of the marquee annual sport events in the Qatari, GCC and international motorsport calendars, attracting thousands of spectators to experience the action against the backdrop of Qatar’s iconic assets.” He added, “Sports and recreation tourism has been identified as one of the four priority tourism sub-sectors in the Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy (QNTSS) and we are proud to join hands with LSCS to build on this events growing popularity in attracting more visitors.”rnAccording to MotoGP figures, the Lusail Circuit attracts over 17,000 spectators during the event, with spectatorship figures increasing each year. The partnership aims to capitalise on the event’s strength to attract more international visitors and further develop the growing sports tourism sub-sector in Qatar.rnMr. Saud Al Attiyah, President of LSCS added, “This partnership is reflective of the club’s ever increasing commitment to developing the sports sector in Qatar, whether it be the motorsport industry directly or other key sub-sectors such as Sport Tourism, to contribute to the nation’s goal of developing a strong and economically viable sports cluster in Qatar.rnHe continued, “Also, I hope the tangible goal focused nature of the partnership hopefully signals to potential future event partners, the commitment of the club to deliver value for partners going forward and in the process, achieve the best event experience for the spectators, fans internationally, the teams on the track, our partners and the country.”rnThe Grand Prix of Qatar starts with free practices on Thursday and Friday for all categories and the Qualifying sessions are scheduled to take place on Saturday, 25th March. On Sunday the 26th, the Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP races start at 18:00, 19:20 and 21.00 respectively.rnTickets are available in the Grandstand, VIP Village and Lusail VIP Club categories for 200, 2,250 or 2,500 and 3,250 Qatari Riyals respectively. They can be purchased at QTickets,Virgin Megastore’s in-store or online platforms, and at the Lusail Circuit Sports Club during the week of the event.rnVisitors and residents are invited to head out to the circuit and enjoy the adrenalinerush in free outdoor sports-related and cultural activities on offer at the fan zone. Activities include free Go-Karting, camel-riding, falcon petting, Arabic coffee-making, and much more. Children under the age of 11 are allowed free access and will be able to enjoy the kids’ zone activities with its inflatable bouncy castles.rn– END –rnFor more information contact:rnwww.lcsc.qarn@losailcircuitrn@QTACorporateAbout Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA):rnLong-recognised by the country’s leadership as an avenue to further Qatar’s development, tourism has been designated a priority sector by the government. Qatar Tourism Authority’s mission is to firmly establish Qatar on the global map as a world-class tourism destination with deep cultural roots. In 2014, QTA launched the Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy (QNTSS), which seeks to diversify the country’s tourism offering and increase the sector’s contribution to Qatar’s economy by 2030.rnQTA works in partnership with public and private stakeholders to achieve this mission by planning, regulating and promoting a sustainable and diverse tourism industry.As part of its planning efforts, QTA identifies types of tourism products and services that will contribute to the Qatar tourism experience, and works to attract investment for their development. Regulation efforts involve ensuring tourism sector establishments operate at the highest standards while perpetuating Qatar’s culture.rnQTA promotes Qatar as a destination around the world, through its destination branding, international representation and participation at trade shows, and by developing a rich calendar of festivals and events. With a growing international presence, QTA’s representative offices in London, Paris, Berlin, Milan, Istanbul, New York, Singapore, and Riyadh support QTA’s promotion efforts. Since launching QNTSS, Qatar has welcomed over 7 million visitors, and achieved an average annual growth in arrivals of 11.5% between 2010-2015. The economic impact of the tourism sector in Qatar is becoming increasingly visible with 2014 estimates showing a total impact on Qatar’s total GDP of 4.1%.rnwww.visitqatar.qarn@Visitqatarrn@QTACorporate