The Middle East’s first-ever FIFA World Cup hosted by Qatar last year, boosts Qatar’s tourism sector

The first-ever FIFA World Cup to be held in the Middle East, which Qatar hosted last year, significantly increased foreign tourism in the nation. Over 2.56 million guests had arrived in Qatar as of August 25, surpassing the total number of visitors for the entire year of 2022. Additionally, there has been a 157% increase in visits so far in 2023 compared to the same period in 2018. The most recent accomplishment demonstrates Qatar's expanding status as a top travel destination on the international tourist map as a result of the FIFA World Cup, which is held every four years.

The expansion of the Hayya Card to current cardholders and the revamping of the Hayya platform, which is now the go-to destination for tourists who need a visa to enter Qatar, have both benefited Qatar's tourism industry. The top 10 nations sending tourists to Qatar are Saudi Arabia, India, Germany, the United States, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan.

Akbar Al Baker, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and CEO of Qatar Airways Group, commented on the increase in visitor arrivals to Qatar and said: "The increase in international visitors to Qatar shows the fruit of Qatar Tourism's strategy to leverage the momentum of the world's largest sporting event late last year.

Over the last several months, Qatar tourist has launched a number of programmes and initiatives targeted at promoting the country's expanding hospitality industry and the tourist industry in general.

The 'Feel More in Qatar' worldwide marketing campaign, which was immediately launched by Qatar Tourism following the 2022 FIFA World Cup, positioned Qatar as the best destination in the Middle East for seasoned travellers, particularly families.

Feel Winter in Qatar, Feel Eid in Qatar, and other ads aimed at diverse global audiences with travel deals and seasonal activations were among the brand platform's seasonal iterations during 2023.

By presenting the nation's premium assets, such as its national airline, award-winning airport, brand-new transit system, and assortment of conference sites at regional and international travel expos, Qatar Tourism has also forayed into the corporate tourism sector.