Qatar Tourism has announced a historic milestone as the country welcomes over five million visitors for the year 2024. This achievement represents a 25 percent suge in international arrivals compared to 2023, reinforcing Qatar’s stature as a prominent global tourism destination.
H.E. Chairman of Qatar Tourism, Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, stated, “Surpassing five million visitors is a landmark accomplishment for Qatar, bringing us closer to realizing our vision of positioning the country as one of the world’s fastest-growing, family-friendly premier destinations. This 25 percent year-on-year growth, alongside the exceptional sales of 10 million room nights, underscores the effectiveness of our strategy and the collaborative efforts of our stakeholders. This milestone is not only a celebration of our accomplishments but also a foundation for future growth as we continue to deliver unique experiences and service excellence across all the tourism touch points for every visitor.”
He further remarked, “Our tourism goals are ambitious but achievable. Between 2022 and 2030, we aim to nearly triple our visitor numbers and to at least double the tourism in-destination spend. We also aim to increase total tourism contribution to GDP to 10-12 percent.”
Read more: Qatar sees tourism boom with 4 million visitors in 2023, 2 million in early 2024
Diverse visitor demographics
GCC nationals constitute 41 percent of the visitors, while the remaining 59 percent hail from international markets, Qatar Tourism reported. Key source markets, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, India, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States, have shown significant growth, reflecting Qatar’s broad appeal.
Exceeding targets in room nights
In addition to exceeding the visitor arrivals target of 4.79 million, Qatar has surpassed its annual goal of 8.8 million room nights sold, achieving nearly 10 million room nights sold thus far this year. As of 2024, 56 percent of visitors arrived by air, 37 percent by land, and the remaining 7 percent by sea. Furthermore, Qatar’s hospitality sector has expanded significantly, surpassing 40,000 hotel keys.
Continuous growth throughout the year
Visitor numbers have steadily increased throughout the year, with notable peaks at the beginning and end of 2024. The AFC Asian Cup in January set the stage for a record-breaking year, while the conclusion was marked by the start of a flourishing 2024/2025 cruise season, the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix, and record visitor numbers from Saudi Arabia during the November school holidays.
Commitment to exceptional experiences
Qatar warmly welcomes travelers from across the globe and reaffirms its dedication to providing exceptional experiences and service excellence that reflect Qatari hospitality and its rich heritage. The country opens its doors for everyone to discover its unique landmarks, from vibrant cultural heritage to world-class family destinations, further solidifying its position as a leading tourist destination that fulfills the aspirations of all visitors.
