In less than half a year, the World Cup will start in Qatar. Many fans from all over the world will come. Hotels are scarce in the desert state, which is why one wants to create exceptional accommodations.
Qatar wants to accommodate many football fans in tents during the World Cup (November 21 to December 18). The reason: There are more than 100,000 hotel rooms in the desert state, but that could not be enough for the many supporters who will travel to the finals from all over the world.
Omar al-Jaber from the Qatar organizing committee confirms the plans. “This is real camping,” he tries to make the situation palatable to World Cup tourists. “We should also let people experience the desert in a Bedouin-style tent.”
Tents without air conditioning
What al-Jaber doesn’t mention, however, is that there will be no air conditioning in the tents. This could be unpleasant, because temperatures of around 30 degrees can be expected in Qatar even in the winter months. However, a water and electricity supply should be installed in the tents. Around 200 tents are to be built on the coastal beach in southern Qatar, which will be equipped with a little more luxury.
Due to the tense hotel situation, the country with three million inhabitants is planning another measure: the fans could be accommodated in neighboring Gulf states, and there should then be up to 160 daily shuttle flights to the venues in Qatar.
World Cup tourists from abroad are also to be accommodated in fan villages, apartment complexes, huts and on two hotel ships.