Facts & Figures

Tourism in Qatar

  • Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) works in partnership with the public and private sectors to plan, regulate and promote a sustainable tourism sector in Qatar.
  • Qatar’s leadership has designated tourism a priority sector in the nation’s efforts to diversify its economy in pursuit of Qatar National Vision 2030 - such is the importance of tourism.
  • QTA projects that the tourism sector’s total contribution to the country’s total economy will reach 5.2% by 2030, and up to 9.7% of Qatar’s non-hydro-carbon economy.
  • According to the UNWTO, Qatar is one of the fastest growing destinations in the world, and the only country in the Middle East to achieve consistent growth over a decade. Between 2010 and 2015, tourism arrivals averaged 11.5% annual growth.
  • Initial estimates of the sector’s impact on the national economy suggest that tourism directly contributed 13.6 billion QAR to the country’s GDP in 2013, and 4.1% of the total economy in 2014.
  • It is estimated that the tourism sector currently provides close to 76,000 jobs in Qatar.
  • 20 new hotel establishments opened in 2015, bringing the total number of hotel rooms in Qatar to 20,000 (98 hotels, 21 hotel apartments).
  • By the end of 2016, 44 hotels are expected to open in 2-,3-,4- and 5-star segment.

Qatar Business Events

  • Qatar’s tourism strategy seeks to triple the number of business events tourists by 2030, contributing at least half of the country’s revenue from tourism spending.
  • Between 2013 and 2015, Qatar’s growth in the number of exhibitions averaged35%.
  • In 2016, it is expected to grow further by 5%, with 58 shows on the calendar covering a myriad of fields, including jewelry and watches, education and technology, manufacturing, food and even coffee.
  • Qatar’s business events tourism sector is set for success with:

Growing event management services.

Exhibition capacity of 70,000 square metres, including world-class venues such as Qatar National Convention Centre(QNCC) and the recently opened Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC).

An expanded transport network.

Exceptional accessibility via the award-winning national carrier, Qatar Airways, whichconnects Doha to 150 destinations worldwide.

Cruise Tourism

  • The Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030 (QNTSS) identifies the cruise industry as a focus area in coming years, with the outlook for Qatar to become an emerging cruise destination exceptionally bright.
  • The GCC is among the top three cruise destinations worldwide during the winter months, offering tremendous opportunity for Qatar’s tourism sector and overall economy.
  • 30 ships have registered to dock in Qatar from October 2016 – End of April 2017.
  • In 2016 QTA signed an agreement with TUI cruises to bring 7 ships to Qatar’s ports in the 2017/18 season. Further discussions with other major cruise line operators are expected to lead to:

55,000 expected visitors in 2016/17 season

132,000 expected visitors in 2017/18 season

250,000 expected visitors in 2018/19 season

  • In 2016, QTA began working with Qatar Ports Management Company ‘Mwani’ on The Doha Port Renewal Project, which aims to build an important tourist attraction and permanent cruise terminal at the heart of Doha.