The launch of a fresh campaign by Visit Qatar to inspire travelers from neighbouring GCC countries will surely help Qatar Tourism broke record in terms of achieving highest number of visitors to the country in the current year.
In recent years, Qatar has emerged a favourite destination for travelers from across the globe thanks to innovative initiatives and lucrative travel plans and programmes announced by the authorities concerned.
Visit Qatar has now launched its new campaign titled “Qatar Ala Hawak” (Qatar, based on your heart’s desire) designed to inspire travelers from across the GCC to experience Qatar’s unqiue winter offerings.
Building on a record-breaking tourism season, this campaign aims to elevate Qatar’s position as a leading destination for a family-friendly winter escape, featuring a variety of must-visit attractions and events catering to all interests and ages.
Qatar’s tourism industry is rapidly growing with a focus on luxury experiences and cultural attractions to attract high-end travellers. The country’s revenue from the travel and tourism market in 2024 is projected at $1,168m (QR4,262.366m), according to the latest updates from Statista, a global data and business intelligence platform. It is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2029) of 2.95%, which will result in a projected market volume of $1,351m (QR4,930.185m) by 2029.
Qatar’s tourism industry continues to thrive in 2024 as by October this year, the country had already surpassed 3.9 million visitors, reflecting an impressive 24% growth compared to the same period in 2023. Qatar remains a top destination of choice for GCC residents and nationals, consistently attracting millions of travelers from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.
Qatar has also emerged as a premier cruise destination. The new Grand Cruise Terminal in Doha offers seamless connectivity to the city’s key attractions, including the Corniche, Museum of Islamic Art, National Museum of Qatar, Msheireb Downtown Doha, and Souq Waqif.
Easing and simplifying the visit visa procedures through the Hayya platform has been instrumental in the growth of the country’s tourism sector. Qatar allows visa-free entry to nationals of 102 countries, while the rest can get an e-visa through the Hayya platform. The sector has also emerged as a key driver of growth as Qatar look to diversify its economy.
The country’s tourism strategy is guided by Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030. The headline goals for the tourism sector under the strategy are to attract six million visitors annually and raise the sector’s contribution to GDP to 12 percent by 2030.
