As part of its efforts to woo more tourists from Europe, the Qatar Tourism Authority has announced a new partnership deal with football club Paris Saint-Germain.
The formal announcement comes nearly a year after media reports first surfaced about the tie-up.
As part of the deal, several full-size outdoor billboards located in key spots around Paris will go up on Friday, Nov. 1, featuring PSG players in front of iconic Qatar landmarks.
The cost of the agreement has not been disclosed, but is thought to be worth some $800 million over four seasons, starting retroactively in 2012.
The deal will help PSG, which is owned by Qatar Sports Investments, an arm of the country’s sovereign wealth fund, comply to new financial fair play rules for European clubs that require them to not spend more than they make.
In a statement, PSG CEO Jean-Claude Blanc said:
“Our association with QTA allows us to have the means necessary to develop the club in the direction that we envision. The club’s image clearly benefits from it and so do our results. We are able to give our supporters all around the world a high level of performance matching their expectations and our ambitions.”
QTA, which is expected to release a plan in the next few months for increasing the country’s revenues from tourism, said the fit is good for them, too. In a statement, Rashed Al Qurese, the tourism’s marketing director said:
“We are delighted to have Paris Saint-Germain as partner of choice with whom we can develop engaging and impactful promotional experiences for international fans and business partners, as well as the residents of Qatar and France. By partnering with Paris Saint-Germain, Qatar also associates itself with Paris, a destination of choice with which we share a sense of prestige, ambition and excellence.”
QTA is also planning to work with PSG’s women’s team and winning handball team, to help promote the Handball World Championship that Qatar will host in 2015, Skift reports.
Thoughts?
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Geez; just allow alcohol to be served back at the Pearl and elsewhere (smirk)
I think you have got it right, imagine telling a french person that they can not enjoy their favourite bottle of red with their meal. Sacre bleu! Hamad will be overflowing with french heart attack victims…
So, some overpaid prima donna footballers standing in front of pictures of very tall buildings in Qatar is going to help the tourism industry here? Yeah, right! I can just imagine the faces on said Parisians when they encounter the (lack of) customer service and the over-priced mediocre food in the restaurants. I mean honestly, talk about putting the cart before the horse. Get the country infrastructure sorted out first then think about tourism…..
“the faces on said Parisians when they encounter the (lack of) customer
service and the over-priced mediocre food in the restaurants”
True, they might just stay at home, then 😀
Here’s hoping. The last thing I want is for Qatar to become a tourist destination like Dubai…….
Oh no, more French people that is the last thing we need….
It is nothing to do with tourism, the real meaning is in the story itself
“The deal will help PSG, which is owned by Qatar Sports Investments, an arm of the country’s sovereign wealth fund, comply to new financial fair play rules for European clubs that require them to not spend more than they make.”
They want to circumvent the rules of UEFA by throwing money at their vanity project, lots of money. I wonder how Qataris think about that.
The picture of all the towers lit up at night always amuses me. It gives the impression of a vibrant bustling city with people on the street, bars, restaurants, theatres etc. If only!
Dressing as a PSG player for Halloween. Synergy!
Pathetic .. Bring European tourist to Doha to see what exactly ?
MIA, souq wagef and maybe inland sea are the only three real places any true international traveler would enjoy …
And off course lulu hypermarket
why would you give up the Pergamon Museum of Berlin with one of the most amazing collection of Greek history when you can come here in Doha? You have to come from a top-tourist country to know what is tourism!
great idea to put the French players all over Paris after they have striked for protesting over tax payment….they cannot reach the end of the month….I would put Ibrahimović who especially shines in “sympathy and kindness”….
I thought it was forbidden to idolize people ?
Allez Marseille!
P.Q …for the French speakers…