MIDDLE EAST - Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) has recorded robust growth going into Q2 of 2012 and has already exceeded its revenue target well before the end of the first year of operation.

QNCC's Director of Business Development, Trevor McCartney, said the centre had already generated an estimated economic impact of US$20m from overseas visitors, and is poised to attract more international and regional events.

In seven months, QNCC has hosted 128 events, catering for more then 128,000 visitors, he added.

Later this year, QNCC will host the 25th Universal Postal Union Congress, 24 September–15 October, and one of the world's largest conferences, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 26 November–7 December.

"QNCC is expected to generate an estimated economic impact of over $55m from these two events alone, with a minimum of 15,000 delegates expected to attend the UN Framework Convention," said McCartney.

Qatar tourism is expected to post a 13 per cent growth rate this year, which is one of the highest growth rates in the world and four times the regional average.

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