* Given the changing dynamics of worldwide restrictions and policies, it is challenging to predict the growth of international visitors during 2021, says ValuStrat
The pandemic-induced restrictions have had a toll on the number of arrivals into Qatar in the first half of 2021, which was down 82% year-on-year to 100,423 visitors, researcher ValuStrat said in a report.
Asia provided the largest source of inbound tourist arrivals, it said. As per QNTC, visitor entries were restricted to events and necessary business activities in view of the pandemic.
Year-to-date (YTD- H1 2021), average occupancy was estimated at 60%, up by 7% year-on-year (YoY) indicating signs of recovery of the hospitality sector, ValuStrat said.
YTD H1 2021, average ADR (QR386) and RevPAR (QR232) were up by 16% and 24% respectively, compared to same period in 2020.
“Given the changing dynamics of worldwide restrictions and policies, it is challenging to predict the growth of international visitors during 2021. Government of Qatar has started to remove mobility restrictions; however, a return to pre-Covid-19 international travel is unlikely to occur this year,” ValuStrat noted.
Citizens and residents returning to Qatar were allowed exemption from quarantine, provided they completed two doses of Ministry of Public Health approved vaccine and/or had recovered from Covid-19 in the last nine months and completed one dose of vaccine.
However, these rules did not apply to travellers from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
On major factors affecting Qatar’s hospitality market, ValuStrat said certain travel and hotel quarantine restrictions imposed in 2020 were relaxed during H1, 2021.
Before the pandemic, there has been a gradual rise in domestic tourism in Qatar. As per Planning & Statistics Authority (PSA), the percentage of Qatari hotel guests gradually increased from approximately 13% in 2015 to 19% in 2019.
This percentage peaked in 2017 at 21% with the imposition of travel restrictions from GCC countries.
“Data collected represents nationality of guests and not place of residence.
“It is assumed that part of the non-Qatar demand consists of residents of Qatar.”
As per observations, travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic have facilitated the growth of “staycations”, ValuStrat noted.
This is corroborated by the fact that despite a 73% annual fall in international visitors in Qatar during 2020, occupancy of hotels merely reduced by 10% YoY, averaging at 54% by the end of 2020.
Based on number of international visitors and occupancy of hospitality properties in 2020, ValuStrat calculated that at least 75% of hotel stays originated from residents and nationals of Qatar during the year.
Therefore, to project the performance of hospitality in the medium term, measuring the growth of volume of domestic tourists is vital, ValuStrat said.
