As Qatar steps up to become the first Arab nation to host the World Cup, the next decade provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Middle East to narrow the sport tourism gap with the West. But what does the tiny nation need to do in order to host the world's largest sporting spectacle?
Tourism is a major cornerstone in Qatar's strategy to diversify its economy away from oil of gas. It receives approximately one million international visitors a year, but about 90 percent of these are currently business travellers.
The Qatar Tourism Authority anticipates that the World Cup will attract a whole new market of leisure visits, keen to experience Qatar's cultural and attractions and sport tourism. It is expecting a 20 percent growth in tourism over the next five years.