Hotel occupancy rates 'poised to grow' as tourists flock to Qatar

Tourism industry experts and observers expect a 70%-80% increase in hotel occupancy rates during the Eid al-Fitr holidays, following the launch of the new-look Haya platform, which allows four types of visas for visitors.

The intention of Qatar Tourism to implement a rich calendar of entertainment activities as well as special promotions and offers by the country's hotels and tourism facilities is also expected to boost occupancy rates at hotels .

This comes after Qatar's recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, the return of life to normal and the recent strong hosting of major international events, as well as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

These factors have collectively contributed to improving the performance of the local hotels and the tourism sector and enhanced the quality of its operations, experts said.

It has also encouraged many travellers to make Doha their destination and spend their vacation, especially the current Eid al-Fitr holidays, to enjoy the various entertainment programmes held in the country.

Facilitating the entry of visitors to Qatar through the Haya platform, which offers a package of visas, will lead to an influx in tourists to the country, reflecting positively on hotel occupancy and raising occupancy rates from 70% to 80 % during the Eid al-Fitr holidays, feels tourism expert Ahmed Hussein.

Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), he stressed that the calendar of activities and events lined up will boost the tourism sector on all fronts, including hotels, restaurants, hospitality and other recreational facilities.

As part of its strategy to strengthen its position as a leading global tourism destination, Qatar aims to attract 6mn visitors annually and raise the contribution of the tourism sector to the gross domestic product to 12% by 2030.

According to Qatar Tourism data, the total number of visitors to the country jumped during January and February by 347% on an annual basis to 730,000 visitors compared to the same period last year. This confirms that Qatar has maintained the tourism momentum achieved by hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Data indicates that Qatar started the new year by registering 340,000 visitors in January 2023, an increase of 295% on an annual basis, and continued to attract visitors to reach 389,000 visitors last February, a record increase of 406%, compared to the same period last year. These figures reflect Qatar's attraction as a destination for visitors from all over the world, they said.

According to the recent data from the Planning and Statistics Authority, hotel occupancy rates in February was an average 57% on an annual basis compared to 56% in the same period last year. The occupancy rate for five-star hotels reached 57% in February compared to 49% in the same month last year.

Tourism expert Ali Sabri said Qatar started the year with ambitious plans for the tourism sector, pointing to an increase in the number of visitors to the country since January 2023, confirming that Qatar has become a global tourist hotspot.

Qatar's high ranking on the Safest Countries Index as well as its entertainment and recreational facilities make it a favourite family tourism destination for visitors from all over the world, he pointed out.

Hotels are likely to see an increase in the number of tourists and residents during the Eid al-Fitr holidays, raising hotel occupancy rate to around 80%, he added.

The launch of the new-look Hayya platform is expected to bring a strong impetus for the tourism sector and increase the flow of tourists to Qatar.

The platform offers four visa types: tourist visa for holders of all nationalities, GCC resident visa for all professions, as well as the visa for escorts of GCC citizens and the electronic travel authorisation visa - known as eTA - which is for visa holders and residents of the countries of the Americas, Canada, Schengen countries, Britain, New Zealand and Australia.

Those wishing to visit Qatar, can now apply for a visa using a single platform, through which they can submit their visa application and receive their visa, with the Hayya app offering all kinds of tourist information and services, such as maps, means of transport, happenings in Qatar, in addition to exclusive discounts offered on the platform.

Visas on the Hayya platform are only suitable for tourism and are not meant for work purposes, with the duration of stay being calculated based on the period and the countries from which the visitor is visiting, The duration of stay starts from 30 days.

The visa processing time depends on the number of applications received at any given moment. However, the processing period is planned to be set at no more than 48 hours in most cases.

Doha has been selected as the Arab Tourism Capital for 2023 by the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism, which is yet another step towards consolidating Qatar's position as an attractive tourist destination. (QNA)