Qatar’s Tourism Milestone: 5.1 Million International Visitors in 2025

DOHA (TRI) — Qatar concluded 2025 with a landmark achievement in tourism, welcoming 5.1 million international visitors throughout the year. This figure represents sustained growth from 2024’s approximately 5.07 million arrivals and underscores the country’s successful post-FIFA World Cup 2022 strategy to establish itself as a year-round global destination blending luxury, culture, sports, and innovation.

Official announcements from Qatar Tourism and industry reports highlight how a dynamic events calendar, enhanced accessibility, and targeted marketing campaigns drove this performance, contributing to economic diversification under Qatar National Vision 2030.

Year-in-Review: Quarterly Visitor Breakdown

Qatar’s tourism growth was consistent, with strong performances across all quarters:

• Q1 (January-March 2025): 1.5 million international arrivals — the highest first-quarter on record. Air travel accounted for 51%, land 34%, and sea 15%.
• H1 (January-June 2025): Over 2.6 million visitors, up 3% year-on-year. Arrival modes shifted to 57% by air, 33% by land, and 9% by sea.
• Q3 YTD (January-September 2025): 3.5 million arrivals, a 2.2% increase compared to 2024. Air dominated at 60%, land 33%, and sea 7%.
• January-November 2025: Approximately 4.4 million visitors.
• Full Year 2025: 5.1 million, with December’s holiday season and events providing the final boost.

GCC countries consistently led source markets, accounting for around 36% of arrivals in early periods, followed by Europe (26%), Asia and Oceania (22%), the Americas (7%), and other Arab countries (7%). Notable surges came from long-haul markets like China (+37%) and Australia (+31%).

Hospitality Sector Sets Records

The visitor influx drove exceptional hospitality performance:

• Room Nights Sold: Approximately 9.7 million across the first 11 months, with full-year estimates exceeding 10 million.
• Average Occupancy: 71% in H1 (up 2 percentage points YoY); 68% through Q3; peaking at 83.9% in November — the highest November rate since 2014.
• Key Metrics in Peak Months: November saw average daily rates (ADR) rise 19.6% to QAR 578.58 and revenue per available room (RevPAR) increase 20.3%.

Hotel inventory expanded to over 41,733 rooms by September, supporting demand from luxury to mid-tier segments.

Economic Impact and Revenue Outlook

While full 2025 revenue figures are pending, the sector’s momentum suggests contributions exceeding 2024’s QAR 55 billion (approximately $15 billion), which represented 8% of GDP. Tourism spending in 2024 reached QAR 40 billion, up 38% in key areas.

The performance advances Qatar’s goal of 10-12% GDP contribution from tourism by 2030, creating jobs and fostering diversification.

Driving Factors: Events, Marketing, and Infrastructure

Qatar’s success stemmed from a multifaceted approach:

• Vibrant Events Calendar — Highlights included the Qatar Toy Festival (130,000+ attendees, +12% YoY), Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition, Shop Qatar, Qatar International Food Festival, Web Summit Qatar, ATP Qatar Open, E1 Doha Grand Prix, Ed Sheeran concerts, Luminous Festival, Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix, FIFA Arab Cup, and ongoing whale shark tours.
• Marketing Initiatives — Campaigns like “Moments Made for You” targeted GCC summer travel, while stopover programs (up 165% in H1) attracted markets such as the UK, US, Germany, Netherlands, South Africa, China, and Australia — selling over 100,000 room nights.
• Accessibility Enhancements — Hamad International Airport expansions, a record cruise season (87 calls in 2024/2025 winter, 360,000+ passengers), and multi-entry options (air, land via Saudi border, sea) supported diverse inflows.
• Product Diversification — Attractions from Souq Waqif and Katara Cultural Village to desert adventures, beaches, and modern landmarks like Lusail City appealed to families, adventure seekers, and luxury travelers.

Outlook for 2026: Doha as GCC Tourism Capital

With Doha designated the GCC Tourism Capital for 2026, Qatar is primed for further growth. Upcoming events, continued infrastructure investments, and regional collaboration position the country to approach its 2030 target of 6 million annual visitors.

Challenges like seasonality persist, but strategic focus on off-peak promotions and sustainability ensures balanced development.

For the latest statistics and planning tools, visit Qatar Tourism’s official dashboards and reports.