Qatar’s massive investment in hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup is paying off, with the country seeing a sharp rise in international tourism and potentially reaching its 2030 visitor targets ahead of schedule.
The number of international arrivals jumped to 5.1 million in 2023, a 25% increase over the previous year. Nearly 2 million tourists have already visited in early 2024, fueling optimism among tourism leaders.
“Our goal was 6 to 7 million visitors by 2030, but we may reach that figure much earlier,” said Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar, during a recent interview in Dubai.
To maintain momentum, Qatar is branding itself as the “capital of sports”, with upcoming events including:
The largest-ever FIFA U-17 World Cup
The 2025 FIFA Arab Cup
The Formula 1 Grand Prix at Lusail
A major international event is also expected to be announced for late November in Doha.
Tourism officials hope the continued rise in visitors will enable the sector to contribute around 12% to GDP before the end of the decade — a target initially set for 2030.
Beyond sports, Qatar is also marketing itself as a year-round destination for families seeking affordable luxury, emphasizing its safety, cleanliness, and value-driven hospitality offerings. Currently, Doha has around 40,000 hotel rooms, with new developments underway focusing on conference and event infrastructure.
Despite strong growth, Qatar faces stiff regional competition. Rather than compete directly, Qatar is partnering with neighboring countries to offer multi-stop travel packages, building regional tourism collaboration.
In 2023, GCC nationals accounted for 41% of visitors, with Saudi Arabia as the top source market. Other major markets include the UK, US, China, India, and Germany. Qatar has opened 13 international tourism offices to broaden its global reach.
However, limited air capacity from India and China is slowing growth from those key markets.
“Flights from India and China are nearly at capacity,” Al Mawlawi said. “We’re working to expand landing slots and increase connectivity.”
Source: Bloomberg
