GCC visitors account for 36pc of tourist arrivals in Qatar in Q1 2025

Published: 04 May 2025

Europeans form second largest group at 28%; hotel occupancy reached 77%

NT Bureau
Doha

Qatar’s tourism sector began 2025 with strong momentum, welcoming over 1.5 million international visitors between January and March. This surge was driven by an integrated tourism strategy that combines high-profile events, strategic partnerships, and diversified destination experiences.

In a statement on Saturday, Qatar Tourism said that visitors from GCC countries accounted for (36 percent), followed by Europe (28 percent) and Asia and Oceania (20 percent), reinforcing Qatar’s growing appeal across varied markets.

Visitor arrivals by air (51 percent), land (34 percent) and sea (15 percent) highlight the effectiveness of Qatar’s diversified access strategy.

Notably, Eid Al Fitr 2025 delivered the highest holiday arrival figures in three years, with 214,000 visitors during the 8-day period, a 26 percent increase over 2024.

GCC visitors accounted for 49 percent of the total, marking an 18 percent year-on-year increase, and hotel occupancy reached 77 percent, up 10 percent from the same period last year.

Strong performance across the hospitality sector accompanied this growth. 71 percent average hotel occupancy and 2.6 million room nights sold reflected heightened demand fuelled by key events including Web Summit Qatar, the Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition (DJWE), and the Qatar International Food Festival.

HE Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Chair of the Board of Directors of Visit Qatar, said: “The achievements of the first quarter of 2025 demonstrate some of the planned outputs of our long-term approach to tourism development. Part of the development transcends into deepening collaboration across local, regional and international markets and continue to diversify source markets, enhance visitor experiences, and reinforce Qatar’s position as a dynamic, year-round destination. We are excited to have welcomed 1.5M in Q1 and look forward to welcoming more guests throughout this year.”