Owing to successful implementation of comprehensive plans to promote country’s tourism sector, the number of tourists to Qatar are on the rise as the State received more than two million visitors during the first half of 2023.
It shows that the efforts of Qatar Tourism to target international tourists and promote Qatar as a destination of choice are bearing fruits.
Qatar Tourism has revealed that Qatar received more than two million visitors during the first half of 2023, which indicates the remarkable performance of the tourism sector thanks to the many tourist attractions that Qatar abounds in, such as the leading tourist attractions and destinations, the calendar always rich in events, festivals, unique tourist experiences, and the authentic Arab hospitality that Qatar is famous for. A key strategy adopted by Qatar Tourism is the country’s open visa policy, positioning Qatar as the most accessible country in the Middle East and the 8th most accessible globally in terms of visa facilitation.
With visa-free entry already offered to 100 nationalities, Qatar aims to welcome and attract tourists from all corners of the globe. The recent expansion of the Hayya Platform has further simplified and unified the tourist visa processes, ensuring a seamless experience for visitors to Qatar.
During the first half of 2023, arrivals by air constituted 51 percent of all visitors to Qatar, while arrivals by land and sea made up 37 percent and 12 percent of the total figures, respectively. Visitors from Saudi Arabia remain the top source market for international visitors this year, contributing to nearly a quarter of all arrivals. This is followed by India and Germany.
The sharp uptake in figures can be attributed to the launch of Qatar Tourism’s ‘Feel More in Qatar’ campaign, which was promoted across key markets, along with the steady calendar of world-class events that have been staged throughout the country since the start of the year and which have maintained the energetic atmosphere from last year’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Qatar’s hospitality sector also witnessed growth as it saw an increase in occupancy rates as there was rise in visitors and guests. Among the hotels, two and one-star hotels recorded the highest occupancy rate in May this year according to the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) data. The two-and one-star hotels recorded the maximum occupancy rate in May 2023 seeing a rise of 92 percent. The hotel and hotel apartments in Qatar saw overall occupancy rate being at 55 percent in May 2023.
