Qatar has been ranked as the best-performing destination in the January – July 2023 period by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), with the country witnessing a massive increase in tourism after hosting the 2022 World Cup.
The latest UNWTO Barometer has shown that Qatar recorded a 95 percent increase in the number of international tourist arrivals through July 2023, exceeding the pre-pandemic levels and reaching a new record, VisaGuide.World reports.
The increase in the number of international tourist arrivals has been attributed to the successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
“The growth in the number of international visitors to Qatar shows the fruit of Qatar Tourism’s strategy to leverage the momentum of the world’s biggest sporting event late last year,” Qatar Tourism Chairman Akbar Al Baker said.
As Qatar Tourism reveals, as of August 25, 2023, the country welcomed more than 2.56 million visitors, which is more than the full-year arrival figures witnessed last year. The same noted that such a high number of visitors in 2023 marks a 157 percent increase over the same period in 2022.
Apart from the impact that the 2022 World Cup had, it was noted that the tourism sector of Qatar has also been boosted by the extension of Hayya for existing card holders, as well as the relaunch of the Hayya platform.
As data show, Qatar registers a high number of tourist arrivals from all over the world, with the majority of them coming from Saudi Arabia, India, Germany, the United States, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, the UK, UAE, and Pakistan.
Reflecting on the growth of arrivals, Akbar Al Baker said that the country was able to attract a large number of international tourists by focusing on priority markets and stressed they have launched several campaigns aimed at boosting Qatar’s tourism sector.
“By focusing on our priority markets and through a multi-pronged approach which sees strong efforts and initiatives across our strategic pillars, we have been able to welcome visitors from all corners of the globe and showcase Qatar’s seamless blend of modernity and cultural authenticity,” Akbar Al Baker added.
As Qatar Tourism explains, after the FIFA World Cup, they launched the “Feel More in Qatar” campaign, focused on attracting families to the country. There were also several other campaigns targeting travelers from all over the world.
Qatar has also organized different events for all age groups, from the Qatar GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup 2023 for kitesurfing enthusiasts to Disney-on-Ice for the littlest travelers.