Qatar has achieved a significant milestone in tourism this year, with over half a million visitors arriving in the country. This number nearly doubles the country’s total population of 2.7 million. According to the Qatar Ministry of Tourism, international tourist arrivals have surged by 25% compared to 2023, further establishing Qatar as a top global tourist destination. Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism, highlighted the country’s remarkable growth, citing that reaching the five-million-visitor mark brings Qatar closer to its goal of becoming one of the world’s fastest-growing, family-friendly tourism hubs.
In addition to this, Qatar also reached a significant achievement with 10 million room sales, representing a 25% year-on-year growth. These developments lay a solid foundation for the nation’s future growth in the tourism sector, with the aim to nearly triple the number of visitors and double tourism-related spending by 2030. The government also plans to increase the tourism sector’s contribution to Qatar’s GDP to between 10-12%.
The majority of tourists, 41%, came from GCC countries, with the remaining 59% coming from international destinations, including a notable number from India. Among the various modes of travel, 56% of visitors arrived by air, 37% by land, and 7% by sea. The peak periods for tourist arrivals were during the AFC Asian Cup in January, the cruise season, the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix, and the November school holidays.
