Visit Qatar signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with TT-Travel (FUN&SUN), a tour operator serving Russian and CIS markets, during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 in Dubai.
In a statement, Visit Qatar said: "the partnership will
launch a dedicated charter flight programme connecting several airports in
Russia directly to Hamad International Airport (Doha) from October 2026".
Under the agreement, "Visit Qatar and FUN&SUN will
collaborate on a dedicated charter programme designed to increase direct air
connectivity between Russia and Qatar and support the volume growth of leisure travellers
from Russia".
The programme is expected to "generate more than 22,000
Russian tourist arrivals to Qatar throughout the 2026/2027 winter season",
with direct services running from two Russian cities: Moscow and Yekaterinburg.
The statement stressed: "The partnership will also
support the development and promotion of comprehensive holiday packages
combining direct flights with beachfront hotels and resorts, excursions and
cultural experiences".
It added that the packages will give Russian travellers
"greater choice and convenience when planning winter holidays in
Qatar", while highlighting Qatar’s "luxury hospitality, family
entertainment, cultural attractions and beachfront experiences".
Beyond the charter programme, Visit Qatar and FUN&SUN
will roll out a joint co-marketing campaign across key Russian hubs to boost
destination awareness and package conversions.
Activity will include B2B training webinars, retail travel
agency incentives, trade roadshows and co-branded digital B2C advertising,
supported by FUN&SUN’s nationwide retail and sub-agency network of more
than 600 partner agencies.
The partnership supports Visit Qatar’s strategy to diversify
international source markets, expand direct air connectivity and grow Qatar’s
share of the premium leisure segment across Russia and the CIS.
By pairing dedicated charter capacity with coordinated
destination marketing and established distribution, the collaboration is
expected to strengthen Qatar’s presence in the Russian market and sustain
growth into the 2026/2027 winter season. -TradeArabia News Service