The State of Qatar is striving to enhance its position as one of the leading global tourist destinations in the region. To achieve this goal, Qatar Tourism has developed plans and launched several infinitives and programmes to attract millions of visitors every year.
The strategy is aimed at increasing the tourism sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product by boosting investments in the tourism sector, which forms an important pillar of the economy and reflects the longer-term strategic vision for economic diversification.
As a part of this strategy, Qatar Tourism launched yesterday the Hayya Platform to facilitate tourists to get entry visas to visit the country. The move is expected to promote Qatar as one of the favourite places for tourists to enjoy the famously warm Arabian hospitality and diverse touristic offering and facilities.
Hayya platform services are well-known for visitors and football fans who attended the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, as over one million entered the country during the tournament using Hayya Card. The validity of the Hayya Card was extended for one year to enable Hayya Card holders to visit the country multiple times.
Qatar Tourism pointed out that the launch of the Hayya Platform is with immediate effect and tourists who want visas to enter Qatar can apply at www.hayya.q
Visitors will enjoy seamless travel and connectivity into Qatar as Hayya will be enabled for e-gate entry at Hamad International Airport. For those entering Qatar via land at the Abu Samra border, the Hayya Platform will provide a pre-registration option for faster entry of vehicles, making the stay in Qatar smoother and enjoyable.
The platform unifies visa processes for tourists, GCC residents, and companions travelling with GCC citizens in addition it will serve as a single portal for all tourist and business visas to Qatar. As has been stated by the Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive H E Akbar Al Baker ‘Qatar is considered the most open country in terms of visa facilitation in the Middle East and the 8th most open globally, with more than 95 nationalities granted visa on arrival’. He also pointed out that this move will further cement Qatar’s position as a leading tourism destination and will provide the opportunity for even more travellers to experience the country’s truly unique touristic offering’.
The re-launch of Hayya Platform in its new form and services will enable visitors to enjoy the continuously expanding Qatar’s hospitality and leisure landscape, as the country has already been named as Arab Tourism Capital for 2023.
