DOHA: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture, in collaboration with the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and other concerned ministries and organisations, has embarked on a massive, phased project to develop various beaches in Qatar for visitors. The project would make these popular spots safe for picnickers and tourists, Fred Van Eijk, the QTA Chief Executive Officer, said yesterday.
Speaking to the media, Fred said that this project would include marking of beaches with appropriate signs to indicate whether its waters are safe for swimming and marine sports, provision of life guards and safety equipment, and other infrastructure required to prevent accidents. The Peninsula, in its edition dated July 12, had highlighted that some of the most popular beaches in and around Doha did not have even the most basic life-saving equipment that could be used to prevent drowing accidents.
The issue of safety on beaches was highlighted after three members of an expatriate Indian family, including two children, drowned last Friday at Palm Tree Island located off the Doha Corniche. The island's life guard was not on duty and no rescue equipment such as life jackets were available at hand. Sources close to the bereaved family had alleged that the three victims, one of whom was a four-year-old boy and another a 12-year-old boy, were brought to Doha by a dhow instead of a speedier craft.
Fred termed the Friday incident as "extremely unfortunate", adding that the tourism industry in Qatar would learn vital lessons from it. He said that the QTA views safety on beaches very seriously, since swimming forms part of the curriculum in most local and expatriate schools. Qatar, for its size and population, has almost an equal number of Olympic sized swimming pools as UK; and with a coastline as big, marine sports and swimming were an important feature in people's lives. Hence, ensuring safety on beaches was of a prime importance, he added.
© The Peninsula 2004
