Qatar visitor numbers up 3% on surge in cruise and Gulf arrivals

Qatar recorded 2.6 million international arrivals in the first six months of 2025, up 3% year‑on‑year, with growth fuelled by strong GCC visitor numbers and a record winter cruise season. 

 

The GCC remained the largest source region, accounting for 36% of visitors, followed by Europe at 26% and Asia & Oceania at 22%, according to the latest data from Qatar Tourism.

 

Air travel continued to dominate, representing 57% of arrivals, while land borders accounted for 33%. 

 

Cruise tourism, however, saw the sharpest rise, making up 9% of all visitors on the back of the record‑breaking 2024/2025 winter cruise season. Running from November 2024 to April 2025, the season saw 87 ship calls to Doha Port, a 19% increase on the previous year, and brought in more than 360,000 passengers. 

 

More than 10% of these passengers boarded in Doha on so‑called turnaround cruises, a growing homeport segment that extends visitor stays and spending before and after sailings.

 

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Tourism growth also benefited the hospitality sector, with hotel occupancy averaging 71%, up two percentage points on H1 2024. Hotel nights sold rose 7% to 5.23 million, suggesting visitors are staying longer on average.

 

Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi, CEO at Visit Qatar attributed the gains to a “distinctive combination of major events, international campaigns and innovative tourism products that cater to a wide range of interests”. 

 

Visit Qatar’s first‑half initiatives included the summer‑focused Moments Made for You campaign, which focused on tailored experiences and seasonal promotions, and expanded stopover programmes targeting major source markets. 

 

The Discover Qatar Stopover Programme grew 165% year‑on‑year in H1 2025, selling more than 100,000 room nights, driven by strong demand from the US, UK, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands, and a record 10,500 visitors in January alone.

 

In aviation, Qatar Airways boosted the country’s profile this year by being named Skytrax Airline of the Year for a record ninth time, as well as installing the world’s fastest in-flight WiFi.