The Role of Heritage Tourism and its Implications for Urban Regeneration in Old Doha, Qatar

Abstract

Doha, the capital of Qatar is the largest city, with over 80% of the nation's population residing in Doha. It is also the administrative and economic centre of the country with a population of more than 2,900,000 persons in May 2021. Prior to 1950, Doha was a small fishing and pearling village stretching 5kms along the sea. Within six decades, it grew rapidly to become a main hub in the Gulf for mega sports competitions, international conferences and exhibition events. The Qatari rich cultural heritage is now being recognized as a valuable resource for sustainable development. This paper focused on the role of cultural heritage tourism and its implications for urban regeneration in the context of Qatar with a particular focus on old Doha. Therefore, in order to use heritage wisely, it was necessary to position cultural heritage tourism as an essential element of sustainable development. The research methodology was based on the case study approach. A thorough investigation of Souk Waqif as an important tourist destination for the local and global tourists was carried out. This analysis evaluated the experience and identified the weaknesses that needed to be reinforced. Moreover, the paper concluded with some recommendations for regenerating old Doha.