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Qatar received around 1.13mn visitors during the first quarter of this year, indicating strong growth in the country's tourism sector, newly released data from Qatar Tourism has shown.The figures reveal a particularly strong start to the year, with January alone accounting for 646,000 visitors, which is over half of the quarterly figures' total, followed by 423,000 in February and 63,000 in March.The considerable drop in visitors during March could be attributed to various factors, such as the timing of Ramadan and shifting travel patterns, according to industry experts, which is also part of the seasonal tourist patterns.However, the overall prospective of the tourism sector in the country remains firmly positive, building on Qatar’s post-2022 FIFA World Cup tourism surge, which significantly elevated the country’s global profile, generating more international interest in exploring the country.The largest number of visitors during this period came from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, accounting for 36% of total arrivals with around 408,000 visitors. In recent years, Qatar has become a major hub and a growing attraction for GCC tourists due to several factors. It mainly includes geographic proximity and easy access to the country, in addition to Qatar's sophisticated, high-end tourist facilities and infrastructure, coupled with the country's keenness to maintain and highlight its authentic heritage, traditions, and culture.Such elements have made GCC families feel at home in Qatar while enjoying excellent holiday experiences within a family-friendly atmosphere.Tourists from Europe account for the second-largest number of visitors during the first quarter of 2026, contributing 26.8% of visitors, around 303,000. The influx of tourists from European countries has grown steadily in recent years, supported by expanded flight connectivity and targeted promotional campaigns. Airlines such as Qatar Airways have played a central role in this expansion, linking Doha to more than 170 global destinations and positioning Hamad International Airport as a major transit hub, in addition to various tourist programmes and easy-entry visa procedures.Further, Asia and Oceania accounted for 21.1% of the visitors to the country within the same period, with around 238,000 visitors, reflecting Qatar’s increasing appeal in long-haul markets. Other Arab countries contributed 7.2%, followed by the Americas at 6.7% and Africa at 2.3%. Such broad distribution of visitors strongly indicates the success of the tourism diversification strategy adopted by Qatar Tourism.Over the past decade, the country has significantly expanded its hospitality infrastructure, with hotel room capacity more than doubling since 2015. According to estimates, Qatar now has over 40,000 hotel keys, ranging from luxury properties operated by global brands to boutique accommodations that reflect local culture. The country has adopted an approach that places strong emphasis on quality and sustainability. Besides, the country has launched various initiatives to encourage eco-friendly tourism, where people can enjoy nature while maintaining its components and help it grow and prosper. 

Held under the patronage of His Excellency Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, the 3rd Qatar Boat Show 2026 will take place from November 4-7.The organisers at a press briefing Tuesday at Raffles Doha, revealed that major leading marine brands and industry experts will participate in the event contributing to strengthening Qatar's position as a leading destination in the global maritime sector.The CEO of Old Doha Port and chairman of the Organising Committee for Qatar Boat Show, Mohammed Abdullah al-Mulla, said: "The Qatar Boat Show was launched based on a firm belief in the ability of Qatar to add exceptional value to the maritime sector globally and Old Doha Port is the ideal place to embody this vision.""The campaign slogan, "Crafting Wonderful," embodies the identity and message of the show, in which the rich maritime heritage is shaped, relationships and partnerships are formed, and the finest experiences are created along one of the most important waterfronts in the region," he added.According to him, the previous edition of the exhibition attracted more than 27,000 visitors from 105 countries, and witnessed the participation of 65 boats and marine vessels, with a total value of QR 880mn.Mohamed al-Atwaan, chief operating officer of Old Doha Port and the show director, emphasised the event has evolved rapidly to become a recognised name internationally.“Qatar Boat Show has moved beyond establishing itself,” he said. “We became a platform, a well-known, well-positioned platform in the region and even globally.”According to al-Atwaan, the show’s success is underpinned by growing confidence from international exhibitors and visitors. “They believe in Qatar Boat Show as a platform to display their latest technologies in terms of the yachting industry, fishing boats and fishing equipment,” he noted, highlighting the diversity of offerings."The strong response to the 2024 and 2025 editions has played a key role in shaping this year’s ambitions. The positive feedback that we got is reflected now on our preparations for 2026,” he said, adding that organisers aim to build on this momentum.Al-Atwaan stressed that the show has quickly positioned itself among leading regional and global events. “In two years or two editions, we became one of the well-known platforms with the trust of international companies continuously participating,” he remarked.Central to the 2026 edition is its newly unveiled campaign theme, “Crafting Wonderful”, which reflects a broader vision for the event. “This is reflected in whatever we do for the boat show,” al-Atwaan explained, citing organisation, yacht design, networking opportunities and industry agreements as key elements.Beyond the industry focus, the show is also set to expand its engagement with the wider community. He pointed to “side activities and activations that we are offering for all the community,” underlining efforts to make the event more accessible and interactive.“We are looking for a unique edition that would be better than the last two editions,” al-Atwaan added.The campaign theme embodies the essence of the Qatar Boat Show, an event that fosters creative ideas and contributes to their development and realisation. The campaign draws its meaning from the concept of "craftsmanship" in the maritime sector, symbolising a commitment to the highest standards evident in every aspect of the show. 

Taiwan will strengthen its defences ‌of the Pratas as China steps up its activities ​around the islands which lie ‌at the top end of the South China ‌Sea, the minister in ⁠charge of ‌Taiwan's coastguard said Thursday.Lying roughly ‌between southern Taiwan and Hong Kong, the Pratas are seen by some ⁠security experts as vulnerable to Chinese attack due to their distance - more than 400km (250 miles) - from mainland Taiwan.The Pratas, an atoll which is also a Taiwanese national park, are only lightly defended by Taiwan, and its coastguard has that responsibility rather than the military. China claims the Pratas, and Taiwan, as its own territory.Kuan Bi-ling, head ​of Taiwan's Ocean Affairs Council, said China was gradually expanding the maritime areas in which it carries out "grey zone harassment" - referring to non-combat operations designed to put ‌pressure on Taiwan such ⁠as coastguard patrols.Since last ​year, the number of Chinese government boats, which include the ​coastguard, has increased around the Pratas, whereas previously activity was concentrated around Taiwan itself and the Kinmen islands, which sit close to the Chinese coast, she added."From a political and strategic perspective, we have found that for them, seizing Dongsha would carry considerable strategic significance," Kuan said, using the name both Taiwan and China use for the Pratas.Taiwan has renovated the wharf on the main island and will regularly deploy vessels with greater operational capacity there, she added, ‌in comments to the Taiwan ‌Foreign Correspondents' Club."Dongsha is an ⁠excellent and highly important site for the development of an island defence ⁠system, and we currently ⁠have plans to develop this," Kuan said, without giving details.China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.In January, Taiwan said a Chinese reconnaissance drone briefly flew over the Pratas, in what Taiwan's defence ministry called a "provocative and irresponsible" move.Kuan said China's pressure campaign "lets down people ​on both sides of the Taiwan Strait", given it drains resources from other things such as rescuing mariners in distress.In time of war, Taiwan coastguard ships would be pressed into action, including its new Anping-class corvettes, which are based on the navy's Tuo Chiang-class warships and have space to install anti-ship missiles.Kuan said China was also giving Taiwan an opportunity to learn."As a result, we are accelerating our efforts to strengthen our ‌capabilities and to ​speed up the transition between peacetime and wartime readiness," she said. 

French analysts and experts have affirmed that the Israeli attack targeting residential headquarters of several Hamas leaders in Doha on Tuesday is unjustifiable and contradicts all international conventions, treaties, and diplomatic norms. In exclusive statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), the analysts stressed that such "aggressive acts" committed by the Israeli occupation at this critical time undermine the peace process and inflame tensions in the Middle East.They pointed out that the State of Qatar is a reliable compass in the geography of diplomacy, based on a culture of respect, cooperation, solidarity, and peace. For this reason, they stated that Qatar deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, not this unjust and treacherous attack.In this context, a strategic political analyst specializing in French and European affairs Yves Sintomer said that condemning this Israeli attack on Doha is the least any rational, peace-loving person can do, adding that what Israel has done is unjustifiable and contradicts all international treaties and diplomatic norms.This unjust attack comes at a critical time and undermines the peace process in the Middle East, especially with the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and considering Qatar's role as a serious and reliable peace mediator in the region, Sintomer said. Sintomer stressed the need for the international community to act to review the mechanisms for upholding international law and preventing violations, especially in light of this attack and the repeated violations committed by Israel in Gaza, Palestine, Lebanon, and other neighboring countries in the Middle East.Strategic expert in international relations and former director of the Africa and Middle East region at the French Development Agency Jean-Bernard Veron condemned the Israeli attack targeting the residential headquarters of several Hamas leaders in Doha, describing it as a new addition to a series of violations committed by Israel in the Middle East, disregarding even the most basic rules of international law.He said that if repeated Israeli violations of international laws continue, then these laws and treaties will lose their meaning and value, and will be repeatedly violated and disrespected by other nations, which will ultimately drag the region in the near future into endless conflicts, violence, and dangerous wars whose consequences and results are unknown.In a related context, Veron emphasized to QNA the significant role that the State of Qatar played and continues to play in mitigating tensions and conflicts in the Middle East, Asia, and even Africa through its effective contributions to the peace process and its promotion of a culture of dialogue and solidarity. For his part, financial and economic analyst and expert at Sorbonne University Dr. Camille Sari said that the Israeli attack on Doha is a rash and reckless reaction.It clearly demonstrates the confusion of Netanyahu and his extremist government, and their attempt to escape through the systematic killing, genocide, and starvation they are practicing in Gaza, he added. They also attempt to drag the region into a wider war and an endless wave of violence, because they know and are well aware that as soon as the war in Gaza ends, they and their extremist government will be tried and held accountable, he pointed out.He explained that the majority of Israeli society opposes Netanyahu's violations of international law, the Israeli army's genocide and starvation in Gaza, and the repeated attacks on Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries, including the recent treacherous attack on Doha.They also want the war to end.Dr. Sari emphasized that Qatar plays a pivotal role in advancing the peace process not only in the Middle East but also globally, as evidenced by US President Donald Trump himself. He further said that Israel is a criminal and rogue state that has no respect for international law or treaties, and therefore does not hesitate to do anything to demonstrate its strength and arrogance. He pointed out that the most prominent evidence of this is its cold-blooded and deliberate killing of children and journalists, without any fear of accountability.