Qatar’s tourism sector grows 3% in H1 2025 with over 2.6M international visitors, strong hotel performance – Visit Qatar

QATAR – The tourism sector in Qatar continued its robust growth during the first half of 2025, welcoming more than 2.6 million international visitors between January and June, representing a 3% increase compared to the same period last year.

This steady rise underscores Qatar’s increasing appeal as a preferred destination in both regional and global markets.

Visitors from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries made up the largest share at 36%, followed by guests from Europe accounting for 26%.

Asia and Oceania contributed 22%, while arrivals from the Americas and other Arab countries each represented 7%.

This diverse visitor mix highlights Qatar’s ability to attract tourists from a wide range of regions.

In terms of arrival modes, 57% of visitors entered Qatar by air, 33% arrived via land, and 9% came by sea.

This distribution reflects the success of Qatar’s multi-access strategy, which focuses on providing ease and smooth entry for global travelers through various transportation options, enhancing the overall visitor experience.

The growth in visitor numbers coincided with strong performance in the hospitality sector.

Hotels in Qatar recorded an average occupancy rate of 71% in the first half of 2025, marking a 2 percentage point increase from the same period in 2024.

Additionally, 5.23 million hotel nights were sold, a significant 7% rise compared to the previous year, indicating sustained demand and strengthening the sector’s contribution to the economy.

H E Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Chair of the Board of Directors of Visit Qatar, commented on these achievements by affirming that the results “confirm the success of our comprehensive strategy to strengthen Qatar’s position on the global tourism map.”

He emphasized that tourism is a key pillar in diversifying the national economy in alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030.

Al Kharji further stated that Qatar plans to deepen cooperation at local, regional, and international levels, expand strategic partnerships, and actively participate in major global forums.

He expressed confidence that the second half of 2025 will bring further achievements and broader successes, driven by ambitious vision and integrated plans aimed at delivering exceptional experiences to residents, visitors, and stakeholders alike.

Overall, the first half of 2025 demonstrated Qatar’s continued progress in developing a vibrant, diverse, and accessible tourism sector that supports national economic diversification goals and strengthens its global competitiveness.

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