In the first six months of 2024, Qatar recorded 2.6 million visitors, with a notable 43 per cent coming from GCC countries including Kingdom of Bahrain, The State of Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia led the influx, with over 700,000 visitors in the first half of the year.
In the second half of 2024, Qatar aims to further elevate its touristic landscape with exciting events, including the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024 and the highly anticipated unveiling event for the Michelin Guide Doha 2025.
Visit Qatar’s mission is to promote and increase international visitor demand by cultivating the country’s rich culture, thrilling attractions, diverse event’s calendar, and unique experiences.
The Qatar Tourism Awards, in partnership with UN Tourism and scheduled for the end of this year, aim to recognise and celebrate businesses that excel in delivering exceptional tourism experiences
Earlier this year, Visit Qatar and Qatar Airways launched the ‘Stopover in Qatar’ packages, offering five exciting options for travellers with limited time to explore the country. In 2023, the number of travellers and hotel room nights for stopovers in Qatar more than doubled compared to 2022.
Qatar, home to over 100 nationalities, naturally promotes cultural exchange. Recognised as one of the safest countries in the world for five years and known for its family-friendly environment, Qatar leverages its diverse population and welcoming atmosphere to foster global understanding, peace, and meaningful connections among cultures.
Key initiatives by Visit Qatar such as the Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) exemplify this commitment by showcasing diverse culinary traditions and facilitating cross-cultural engagement.
In addition, the successful and peaceful hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup further demonstrated Qatar’s capability to unite diverse global audiences during large events. Complementing this, Qatar’s progressive visa-on-arrival policy for over 102 countries facilitates broader international access and engagement, reinforcing its role in promoting peace through tourism.
RECENT OPENINGS
Qatar’s tourism sector is flourishing with a series of impressive new openings and developments aimed at enriching the visitor experience. Key highlights include the Meryal Waterpark, the largest in the country, which boasts the world’s tallest water slide and a variety of family-friendly attractions. Additionally, the award-winning Habitas Ras Abrouq and The Outpost Al Barari hotels provide immersive, sustainability-focused experiences in stunning natural surroundings.
To maximise visitor engagement, these new attractions and accommodations are being promoted through comprehensive digital marketing campaigns. The Visit Qatar pass further enhances the experience by offering exclusive deals across hotels, restaurants, and attractions, making it easier for travellers to explore. Looking ahead, upcoming projects will see the introduction of new theme parks and luxury resorts, further diversifying Qatar’s offerings and solidifying its reputation as a must-visit destination that caters to a wide range of interests, from adventure to cultural experiences.
CRUISE SEASON
Since 2016, Qatar’s cruise market has witnessed remarkable growth. The 2023-24 cruise season marked a milestone with 73 cruise ships and over 378,000 visitors, surpassing the previous season’s figures of 54 ships and 253,191 passengers.
Several international ships made their way to the new cruise terminal at Doha Port, including MSC Virtuosa, Seabourn Encore, AIDAprima, Artania, Crystal Symphony, Mein Schiff 2, Azamara Journey, MS Riviera, MS Hamburg, and the renowned Norwegian Dawn.
The terminal’s strategic location, just minutes from key attractions such as the National Museum of Qatar and Souq Waqif, optimises the visitor experience, allowing them to maximise their time in Doha.
The new cruise season is scheduled to start in October 2024 and run until April 2025. Doha Port will host over 90 cruises, including the likes of Mein Schiff 4, MSC EURIBIA, AIDAprima, COSTA SMERALDA and CELESTYAL JOURNEY.
Looking ahead, Qatar Tourism plans to forge additional partnerships with other prominent cruise lines. These strategic alliances are essential for driving growth in Qatar’s cruise and tourism industry, supporting the country’s 2030 strategic tourism goals of welcoming six million annual visitors by 2030, and establishing Qatar as one of the fastest-growing destinations in the region. Qatar’s new cruise terminal at the old Doha Port meets international standards and is instrumental in promoting global marine tourism.
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
Qatar is actively expanding its international presence and promotional strategies to attract travellers from around the world. Visit Qatar, the marketing and promotional arm of Qatar Tourism, currently operates 13 international representative offices, across 15 identified priority markets, which help it reach a wide audience and foster relationships with key travel partners.
Its international engagement also includes participation in major international events and trade exhibitions, such as the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), ITB Berlin, ILTM Asia Pacific, Seatrade Cruise Global, and the Riyadh Travel Fair. These platforms allow Visit Qatar to showcase the country’s diverse tourism offerings on a global scale and connect with travel professionals and media from various markets.
Additionally, Qatar continues to position itself as a premier global sports destination by sponsoring high-profile events such as UEFA Euro 2024 and Goodwood. These partnerships are designed to elevate Qatar’s international profile and highlight its unique tourism experiences, cultural landmarks, and luxury accommodations to a broader audience.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Qatar’s events calendar is vibrant and diverse, featuring a wide range of activities all year round. Notable upcoming events in the next quarter include Formula 1, Disney on Ice, MotoGP, the Qatar Balloon Festival and E1 Championship. Looking ahead, the country also has major events such as the Arab Cup and the Web Summit Qatar scheduled for next year.
These events allow Qatar to showcase its experiences to the world, highlighting its hospitality, cultural richness and organisational expertise to all visitors. This positive exposure has the potential to establish Qatar as a go-to destination for both leisure and business travellers. These events not only draw international attention but help achieve its strategic goals through increased tourism, hotel occupancy, and business activities. Qatar’s investment in world-class infrastructure and facilities for such events leaves a lasting legacy, attracting future conferences, exhibitions, and competitions.
LATEST INITIATIVES
Several new initiatives underscore Qatar’s commitment to enhancing its tourism sector. The Qatar Tourism Awards, scheduled for the end of this year, aim to recognise and celebrate businesses that excel in delivering exceptional tourism experiences. In partnership with UN Tourism, the awards will focus on customer service excellence, sustainability, and uniqueness, encouraging stakeholders to continually improve and innovate.
Additionally, the upcoming arrival of the Michelin Guide in Doha in 2025 marks a significant milestone for Qatar’s culinary scene. The guide’s rigorous assessments and prestigious awards will attract food enthusiasts and elevate Doha’s status as a top dining destination.
TRAVEL AGENT PROGRAMME
Qatar Tourism’s Specialist programme is an advanced and interactive online training initiative that aims to enhance the knowledge of global travel trade partners about Qatar’s tourism offerings. Visit Qatar utilises this programme as part of its strategic plan to transform Qatar into a world-leading tourist destination, ensuring travel agents have the knowledge and tools required to promote Qatar effectively. The programme uses cutting-edge digital learning technologies to provide an immersive educational experience that equips travel agents with comprehensive information about Qatar’s rich history, diverse heritage, and an array of attractions and experiences.
By completing this programme, travel agents gain a recognised certification and access to exclusive benefits, including insider tips, detailed itineraries, and the latest updates on accommodations and attractions. This initiative not only supports the goal of significantly increasing international visitor arrivals but also enhances the ability of global travel partners to effectively promote Qatar. To date, over 6,000 travel professionals have been certified, reflecting the programme’s success in expanding Qatar’s global reach.