What This Measures
International tourist arrivals count the number of non-resident visitors entering Qatar for tourism, business, or transit purposes. As a primary output metric for the tourism sector, it captures Qatar’s ability to attract international visitors and convert infrastructure investment — hotels, attractions, aviation connectivity — into actual visitor flows.
Tourism is a central plank of Qatar’s economic diversification strategy, leveraging the country’s position as a Gulf hub, the World Cup legacy infrastructure, and Qatar Airways’ global network.
Baseline
Approximately 1.5 million (2010) — At the baseline, Qatar’s tourism sector was nascent, with limited hotel inventory, few leisure attractions, and a visitor profile dominated by business travellers and transit passengers.
Current Value
Approximately 4.2 million (2024 estimate) — Tourist arrivals have surged following the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which attracted 1.4 million visitors during the tournament period alone. Post-World Cup momentum has been sustained through expanded hotel inventory, new attractions, eased visa requirements, and aggressive marketing by Qatar Tourism.
2030 Target
6 million annual visitors — Qatar Tourism’s stated target, supported by the National Tourism Sector Strategy.
Status Assessment
On Track — The trajectory from 4.2 million toward 6 million by 2030 requires compound annual growth of approximately 6 to 7 percent, which is achievable given current momentum, expanded aviation connectivity, and continued investment in leisure and cultural attractions. Post-World Cup visitor retention has exceeded initial projections.
Key Drivers
Qatar Airways network expansion providing direct connectivity to over 160 destinations. Visa liberalisation, including visa-free access for over 95 nationalities. World Cup legacy infrastructure including over 30,000 hotel rooms. Lusail City and West Bay developments offering premium hospitality product. Cultural attractions including the National Museum of Qatar, Museum of Islamic Art, and Qatar Auto Museum.
What Needs to Happen
Reaching 6 million requires diversification beyond the current source-market base. GCC and South Asian visitors constitute the majority of arrivals; growth in European, East Asian, and North American markets is needed to reach the upper target. Mid-market accommodation and leisure attractions must complement the existing premium-skewed product. The cruise tourism segment, event tourism calendar (F1, Asian Cup, potential Olympic bid), and stopover tourism leveraging Qatar Airways’ transit traffic represent growth vectors that must be fully activated.