Achievements recognise the Council’s sustainability performance across all its operations
Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) was recently awarded the ISO 20121 certification for Event Sustainability Management Systems, as well as the ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management Systems. Both certifications affirm QNTC’s commitment to sustainable practices in all areas of event management.
ISO 20121 is an international standard designed to help organisations in the events and hospitality industry integrate sustainability into management practices and processes by specifying requirements that reduce their environmental footprint. It offers guidance to help organisers manage events and control their social, economic and environmental impact while promoting more responsible consumption.
Qatar National Tourism Council Secretary General and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Enshrined in the Qatar National Vision 2030, sustainability has long been of vital importance to Qatar, and our growth and development has been predicated on it. This certification is yet another recognition of QNTC’s ongoing commitment to providing superior quality and effective management while adhering to international best practices. It will instil confidence among partners, as well as current and prospective stakeholders, in our operations and procedures, while supporting our efforts to improve tourism sector services in Qatar.”
As QNTC collaborates with partners and stakeholders to further the national sustainability agenda, it has already begun incorporating sustainable practices at its events. During Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF), QNTC works with food charities to collect extra food from participants and distribute it to those in need. In the future, the council will incorporate additional measures at its events, such as digital banners, rollups and badges in lieu of paper or plastic, the installation of recycling bins throughout event venues, banning single use plastics, encouraging locally sourced products, supporting the use of public transportation and smart cooling technology.
The ISO certifications were granted after an extensive audit conducted by Global Inter Certification (GIC) and is valid for three years. As part of QNTC’s commitment to ISO, the council will be working with a third-party certification body to conduct an annual surveillance audit to ensure its adherence to the latest best practices.
ISO certifications are internationally recognised and are awarded based on numerous quality management principles including continual development and improvement, strong customer focus, and evidence-based decision making.
As the main tourism development and regulation body, Qatar National Tourism Council works towards the development of a sustainable and robust sector, empowering stakeholders across the public and private sectors to innovate in the creation of products and services.
For more information, please contact the QNTC press office:
+974 4499 7882 /+974 3392 4466
About Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC)
Qatar National Tourism Council’s mission is to firmly establish Qatar on the global map as a place where cultural authenticity meets modernity, and where people of the world come together to experience unique offerings in culture, sports, business and family entertainment.
QNTC’s work is guided by the Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy (QNTSS), which seeks to diversify the country’s tourism offering and increase visitor spending.
Since launching QNTSS, Qatar has welcomed over 14 million visitors. The economic impact of the tourism sector in Qatar is becoming increasingly visible with the government designating tourism in 2017 a priority sector in pursuit of a more diverse economy and more active private sector. www.visitqatar.qa
