In comparison to the first half of 2023, Qatar saw over 2.6 million foreign tourists in the first half of 2024, a 28% increase in arrivals. According to data given by Qatar Tourism, one of the main reasons for the increase in tourists was the AFC Asian Cup Qatar.
In the first half of this year, 2,639,000 foreign visitors came to Qatar overall. Thirteen percent arrived by water, forty percent by land, and fifty-one percent by air. With 755,000 visitors in the first half, Saudi Arabia remained the leading source of foreign arrivals, accounting for 29% of all visitors arriving by June 2024.
The strategic actions of Qatar, such as organizing high-profile events, have advanced the travel and tourism industry. The nation's history of organizing major international gatherings, like the FIFA World Cup, the Geneva International Motor Show, Formula 1, Web Summit, Qatar Economic Forum, and several more, cemented the nation's standing as a top travel destination.
The tourism industry in Qatar has grown and developed significantly since the FIFA World Cup 2022. New hotels and tourist destinations have opened, and new districts have emerged, such as the Qetaifan Islands. Among them are Our Habitas Ras Abrouq and the Meryal Waterpark.
The GDP contribution of the travel and tourism industry increased by 31% in 2023 to a record QR81.2bn, or 10.3% of Qatar's total economic output. The Third National Development Strategy 2024–30 and Qatar National Vision 2030 serve as the foundation for the nation's tourism policies.
As a sign that it welcomes the world, the country is trying to make visa regulations more straightforward. Qatar is now the eighth most open country in the world and the most open in the region as a result of the new visa policy. The country's introduction of several visa-easing policies, such as granting citizens of 102 nations free and unrestricted entry into Qatar, is reflected in the high position.
