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 Most of the likely 500,000 fans are expected to stay in hotels and
apartments, but thousands could also camp under canvas in desert
close to stadiums, a move organizers are holding up as a creative,
and culturally authentic, way for Qatar to meet FIFA requirements.
"At the heart of this World Cup is a commitment to showcase the
hospitality and friendship of the Middle East. As a result, we are
actively researching the concept of supporters sleeping under the
stars," a spokesperson for Qatar's World Cup Supreme Committee told
Reuters without giving further details.
"With six years to go, all options are still being explored but we
are excited by the possibility of supporters enjoying a range of
accommodations designed for all needs."
Qatar is also looking at promoting private letting services such as
Airbnb and putting up spectators on cruise ships docked along the
coast, a government official said.
If fans choose to stay in neighboring countries, such as the United
Arab Emirates and Bahrain - where hotel rooms and alcohol may be
more readily available - and fly in to watch matches, that could
further reduce a potential strain on accommodation.
Since winning its bid, Qatar has spent tens of billions of dollars
on upgrading infrastructure and has built scores of hotels and
apartment complexes.
But some projects have stalled including a $12 billion bridge and
underwater tunnel link across Doha bay and the building of at least
two hotels in the capital.
While that suggests budgetary caution at a time of low oil prices,
it also highlights worries about possibly overbuilding -- especially
of expensive white elephant developments that bequeath leftover
infrastructure the country may never need.
It also reflects a more pragmatic style of government evident since
the 2013 accession of Sheikh Tamim, a low-key ruler focused more on
domestic issues than self-promotion on the world stage. "HOW
SUSTAINABLE?"
Some Qataris criticize the furious pace of World Cup construction.
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"In the past five years the number of hotel rooms has doubled, now
they are looking at doubling them again," a former Qatari diplomat
said. "People are asking: 'How sustainable is this?' 'Once the cup
is over what do we, as Qataris, really need with all these hotels?'"
Desert camping, a popular winter activity for Qataris, who are known
for assembling luxurious sites among the sand dunes, could help
allay concerns about thin occupancy after the event, analysts say.
Contrary to Qatar's World Cup bid in 2010, when it said it would
create more than 55,000 rooms, authorities said in January that
46,000 rooms would be ready.
The still implies a busy building program -- industry analysts STR
Global estimate Qatar’s current hotel stock totals 21,056. A Supreme
Committee spokesperson said Qatar was on track to deliver the hotel
rooms required by FIFA.
The Supreme Committee did not say if the camps would serve as the
specially created "fanzones" in which conservative Muslim Qatar has
said fans will be allowed to consume alcohol.
Public drinking of alcohol is banned in Qatar, which also limits the
sale of alcohol primarily to luxury hotels.
(Additional reporting by Matt Smith in Dubai; Editing by William
Maclean/Mark Heinrich)
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