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Citizens called on the competent authorities, including the Qatar Tourism Authority, to establish controls to limit the increase in the prices of recreational facilities and to control the prices of tourist services such as amusement parks, resorts and tourist facilities, and the need to classify residential units in tourist resorts by category and limit the exaggerated increase in prices, as they play a role in hindering domestic tourism and limiting the ability of the tourism industry to attract tourists from all cities in Qatar and the world, criticizing the high prices of recreational facilities that deprive them of the pleasure of enjoying the services and relaxation during the Eid holidays.
They confirmed to Al Arabiya that promotional offers on some recreational facilities and tourist services do not include holidays or weekends, but are limited to regular days, during which these services and facilities are not available at the destination.
They explained that stimulating domestic tourism requires the development of regulatory measures to control the prices of recreational and tourist facilities during holidays and weekends, preventing the high demand for these facilities during these periods from being exploited, and stressed that the high prices of tourist services in resorts, some hotels and recreational facilities have a negative impact on tourist activities, pointing out that the high prices of recreational and tourist facilities in the country reduce the competitiveness of the tourism sector compared to neighboring markets.
Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Jaber: Control measures must be taken to reduce high prices
His Excellency Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Jaber, Chairman of the Research and Fatwa Committee of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, called for the need to adopt measures and mechanisms to reduce the phenomenon of high prices and to control them by experts and decision-makers, especially those who go against the tenets of Islamic law and violate its rules and controls.
There is a legal perspective when it comes to high prices. As scholars say, there are two situations in which pricing is allowed: pricing under normal circumstances, where there is no high price, and some scholars say that pricing is not allowed. Under normal circumstances, merchants do not engage in injustice or high prices. This is the view of most Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali jurists, as well as the view of Ibn Umar, Salim ibn Abdullah and Qasim ibn Muhammad, who cited the words of Allah Almighty as evidence: “Unless this is a trade agreed upon by both of you” (An-Nisa: 29).
The meaning of the Noble Ayat is that people have their own money and setting prices is a restriction on them, while the Imam is ordered to take care of the interests of Muslims and he does not think much about the benefits of cheap prices. If the two agree, both parties must have the right to make their own efforts, and the owner of the goods must be obliged to sell the goods that are not recognized. This is contrary to the words of God Almighty: Unless it is a transaction with your consent (An-Nisa: 29).
They also cite as evidence the narration of al-Tirmidhi on the authority of Anas, may God be pleased with him, who said: In the days of the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, the prices rose, and he said: People, O Messenger of God, the prices have risen, so it is set for us, so the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: Verily, Allah is the Setter, the One who Seizes, the Provider, the Sustainer, and I wish to see God, and none of you seeks me with blood or wealth. This was narrated by five other Prophet except Nasa’i, authenticated by Ibn Shiban, and Abu Isa al-Tirmidhi said: This is a good and authentic hadith.
The second case: Pricing at high prices: Scholars have two different views on this issue:
First opinion: The opinion of those who are against setting prices, many Shafi’is, Hanbali and Malikis take this as evidence, and they cite as evidence the report of Bahaqi in his Hadith on Shafi’i authority. I take the authority of Umar, may God be pleased with him: He passed a woodcutter in the market of the prayer hall, and he had two baskets in his hand with raisins, so he asked him the price, and the price was one dirham owed to him for each one, and Umar said to him: A camel has come from Taif with raisins, and they are considering your price. Either you raise the price or you bring the raisins into the house and sell them as you want. When Umar returned, he thought about it, and then came to a woodcutter in his house and said to him: What I told you is not one. This is not my intention, nor is it a decree, but I want to do something good for the people of the country, so you can sell it wherever you want and sell whatever you want.
Al-Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him, said in this hadith: I say this because people have control over their money and no one can take it or any part of it without their consent, except in certain places that bind them, and this is not one of them.
The second opinion: the opinion of those who allow the setting of prices, which is held by the Hanafis, some Malikis, Ibn Taymiyya and Ibn Qayyim. The author of the Indian fatwa said: Unless the owners are consistent, there will be no consensus on the setting of prices. Food is beyond value, and the judge cannot protect the rights of Muslims except by setting prices, so he is the one who chooses and issues fatwas, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Ali Bin Dara: Weakening our tourism industry’s competitiveness
Ali Bin Dara said that the revitalization of domestic tourism requires the control of prices of recreational and tourist facilities during holidays and weekends to prevent the high demand for these facilities during these periods, stressing that the high prices of tourist services in resorts, some hotels and recreational facilities have a negative impact on tourist activities, pointing out that the high prices of recreational and tourist facilities in the country reduce the competitiveness of the tourism sector compared with the markets of neighboring countries.
He pointed out that recreational facilities and domestic tourism are a safe option for citizens and residents who choose to spend their annual holidays and vacations in Doha, which requires considering the prices of services in some recreational venues that are able to attract a large number of tourists, noting that controlling the prices of tourism products helps to provide citizens with a variety of choices and stimulate domestic tourism with all the necessary components, and these services and facilities must be provided at prices suitable for all groups.
Regarding the prices of tourism products, he stressed that the standards of hotels in Qatar are among the best in the world, but he believes that prices are exaggerated and stressed the importance of resorts and hotels operating in the country paying special attention to their guests, considering that most guests come from these countries, either citizens or residents, and that such guests stay in hotels with their families and can make repeated visits several times during the year.
Abdul Rahman Ibrahim: Offer does not include holidays or “weekends”
Abdul Rahman Ibrahim confirmed that discounts on some tourist and entertainment facilities, resorts or subscriptions do not include holidays or weekends and are not included in promotional offers, which are limited to normal days during which these facilities and services are not appropriate destinations.
Ibrahim attributed the high prices of tourist facilities in the country to the lack of regulation of these services, saying: “During the Eid holidays, I looked for a rest house for rent and we found one for 7,000 riyals per night.
He added that some lounges have begun to compete with cabins and surpass cabins in terms of nightly rentals, despite the difference in location, since cabins are on the seashore, while lounges are in other areas away from the sea, and the services of lounges are modest compared to those of cabins located on the sea, and it offers some privileges that are considered not to be available in lounges, not to mention the insurance amount and other expenses and requirements that tenants need to have in the rest, such as food, drinks, etc., in addition, some rest houses do not have licenses and are not legally located.
He expressed the hope that the relevant departments will regulate, not only for private rest houses and cabins, but also for the entry into recreation cities, requiring a special budget, setting a price list that should not be exceeded, indicating that many places should be regulated. Using these resources to create competitive recreation cities, as well as to build cabins and rent them out to citizens and residents at reasonable prices, is beneficial to the national economy and promotes domestic tourism by providing the private sector and citizen investors with the opportunity to contribute to the development of tourism and recreation, which helps stimulate domestic tourism and reduce some of the costs borne by citizens, residents and foreign tourists, especially since the increase in recreation venues will bring diversity of choice and reduce prices for citizens who want to spend a special time with family and friends, whether it is a holiday, an event or a “weekend”.
Hamad bin Maiqa Al Ahbabi: Retirees need 50% discount
Businessman Hamad bin Maiqa Al Ahbabi attributed the high prices of entertainment services to the increased demand and limited supply, and pointed out the need to allow the private sector to freely invest in the tourism industry as a partner in developing the industry and give the sector advantages after developing comprehensive plans for each region of the country, increase investments in the tourism sector, and create more tourist facilities and cities.
Al-Ahbabi pointed out that tourism plays an important role in the economies of countries as it has a significant impact on economic development. The economic impact of tourism is also reflected in the increase in foreign exchange earnings by providing the maximum amount of foreign exchange that tourists spend during their visit. The length of their stay on various services as well as tourism and non-tourism goods indicates that tourism expenditure contributes to the development of many sectors that provide the goods and services needed for the tourism industry.
Ababi stressed that Qatar’s tourism industry contributes 4.7% to the non-oil economy, which is still lower than expected, confirming the need to incentivize business owners to inject investment into the tourism industry and increase publicity incentives such as Qatar Airways offering discounts to tourists traveling to Qatar for tourism and leisure.
He called on hotels, resorts, beaches, entertainment venues, restaurants and cafes to offer discounts of up to 50 percent to retirees and to display signs with offers and discounts for Qatari citizens and their families, pointing out the possibility that such ideas could contribute to increasing local tourism.
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