Qatar on track to welcome 6.2 million...

The original target of 6m tourists by 2030 is set to be surpassed

In the afterglow of FIFA World Cup, Qatar is expected to welcome 6.24 million tourists in 2028, with visitor spending expected to reach QR102.7bn, an increase of 9.1% annually, according to a new report.

The report, called Qatar Economic and Commercial Activities Guide 2022, launched by the Qatar Chamber and based on research by Capital Economics, showed how the country’s tourism sector is becoming a vital part of its economy.

When Qatar Tourism launched its multi-media campaign to drive forward the country’s tourism goals in 2021, it stated its ambition was to welcome more than six million visitors a year by 2030.

Next month, Qatar is expecting more than 1.5 million visitors to attend the World Cup, demonstrating its potential to be a global tourism destination, and according to the guide, the country is set record an economic return exceeding US$7bn through tourism from the World Cup alone.

Factors supporting the rise of tourism beyond the World Cup include visa-free entry for citizens from 88 countries and the country's award-winning airline and airport, Qatar Airways and Hamad International Airport.

The Qatari government has also stepped up efforts to attract foreign investments by offering incentives and facilities to global business owners in addition to setting up a department to coordinate between local and foreign investors and the government agencies.

GET YOUR FREE 48-PAGE GCC TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY REPORT HERE

Qatari authorities are also working on developing a system that will expedite the licensing process for tourism companies.

Currently ranked among the richest countries in the world with an average per capita income of US$167,000 annually, Qatar has invested US$200 billion in infrastructure, which supports the tourism sector with facilities that include Hamad International Airport and tourist attractions such as Qatar National Museum, as well as pipeline developments including the Qatar Rail project and the Msheireb Downtown Doha project.

For more information, visit www.visitqatar.com