Qatar Expected to Draw 4.9 Million Visitors by 2025

Souq Waqif

Qatar's tourism sector is evolving in alignment with the country's strategic economic objectives. Projections indicate a substantial increase in visitor arrivals by the end of 2024 compared to the previous year, pointing to a promising trajectory.

In an interview with The Peninsula, Scott Livermore, ICAEW Economic Advisor and Managing Director at Oxford Economics, emphasized the anticipated growth driven by Qatar's non-energy sectors. The expansion spans various industries, with tourism expected to play a significant role in driving future economic growth, reflecting its crucial position within Qatar National Vision 2030.

Livermore stated, "Despite temporary fluctuations due to seasonal factors and event schedules, tourism activity remains robust, with over 2 million visitors from January to April, marking a 35 percent increase from the same period in 2023. We project 4.5 million visitors by the end of 2024, rising to 4.9 million by 2025."

Despite global economic challenges, the GCC region, including Qatar, maintains optimism fueled by strong bilateral agreements and investments. Recently, Qatar secured long-term supply contracts for liquefied natural gas with India and Taiwan, highlighting continued economic stability.

The GDP growth forecast for Qatar is 2.2 percent this year, expected to rise to 2.9 percent in 2025. The World Travel & Tourism Council's 2024 Economic Impact Research forecasts that Qatar's travel and tourism sector will contribute significantly to the economy, representing 11.3 percent of total GDP and creating over 334,500 jobs, approximately 15.8 percent of the workforce.

International visitor spending is projected to reach QR69.6bn this year, with domestic spending expected to reach QR12bn, indicating robust growth in both segments.

These achievements underscore the government's commitment to enhancing Qatar's travel and tourism sector through public-private partnerships, offering diverse and enriching experiences for visitors. Last year, the sector achieved record highs in GDP contribution, job creation, and domestic visitor spending, highlighting its pivotal role in the national economy.

Qatar's tourism strategy is guided by Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030, aiming to attract 6 million annual visitors and increase the sector's GDP contribution to 12 percent by 2030.

 

 

Source: The Peninsula Qatar