QATAR WORLD CUP SHUTTLE FLIGHTS SET TO BUOY GULF TOURISM

The shuttle service will initially connect Doha with Dubai, Muscat, Riyadh, Jeddah and Kuwait City. Fans who want to watch this year’s football World Cup in person won’t need to stay the night in Qatar. Qatar Airways on Thursday announced partnerships with Gulf carriers to set up match-day shuttle flights between Doha and major Middle Eastern cities for fans to attend games and depart Doha the same day. The move will alleviate concerns over lack of affordable accommodation in Qatar and benefit regional tourism hubs, including Dubai. Qatar Airways plans to add more flights across the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council in the future. The World Cup starts in November, and runs for a month. About 1.5 million fans, a little more than half the population of Qatar, are expected to descend upon the tiny Gulf state during the event, leading to concerns about the availability and cost of hotel rooms. Source: Gulf Business