- * May 2022 international arrivals 25% higher than pre-pandemic figures
- * Tourism performance over January-May shows Qatar well on-track with recovery plans
- * For the first time ever, visitor arrivals by land surpasses those by air
Qatar’s festivities in May have proven a big boon to the country’s visitor arrival figures. The past month’s unique events and offerings under ‘Eid in Qatar’ have driven a significant influx of visitors. May international arrivals exceeded 166,000, marking it as the month with the highest number of visitors in 2022. Furthermore, the figures represent more than a quarter of all visitors welcomed over the first five months of this year
The latest data on visitor arrivals point to a steady recovery of Qatar’s tourism sector, with the year-to-date total (580 k) fast approaching the overall arrivals figure of 2021 (611 k). Furthermore, arrivals in May this year are 25% higher than that of May 2019, demonstrating a return to pre-pandemic levels of tourism as public health measures for travel ease.
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In keeping with the strategic focus of festivities held in May as part of ‘Eid in Qatar,’ more than half (54%) of all arrivals in May originated from the GCC, with visitors from Saudi Arabia leading international arrivals during the month. Capitalising on Qatar’s close proximity and ease of access, the proportion of total arrivals by land exceeded that of air for the very first time, with visitors opting to drive through the open and operative Abu Samra border.
Commenting on the latest tourism figures, Chief Operating Officer of Qatar Tourism, Berthold Trenkel said, “The data demonstrates that our recovery strategy is working. While air travel remains a strong pillar of our tourism strategy attracting visitors from all corners of the globe, we are pleased to see an influx of visitors leveraging Qatar’s multiple points of access and visiting Qatar via its land and sea borders.”
He added, “2022 has been a pivotal year for the tourism sector and we’re excited to build on this growth as we enter the summer season. Looking ahead, we are confident that the tourism sector will perform well during this time, as visitors enjoy the range of activities that can be found around the country, from musical performances to retail offers and one-of-a-kind museum exhibitions, and which are in keeping with the country’s values and traditions.”
Qatar Tourism recently launched a monthly release of events and activities, with its June calendar now live on www.qatarcalendar.com . A handy guide for residents and visitors alike, the calendar is set to be an easily accessible tool that can help visitors make the most of their stay in Qatar. With the summer season in full swing and Eid holidays soon upon us, visitors can expect the next issues of the calendar to highlight special seasonal activities, as well as new and returning events and attractions.
Visitors from the region have multiple access points to Qatar, by land, air and sea, and the option to drive into Qatar makes the destination particularly appealing. With a driving distance of 584 km from Riyadh (equivalent to around 6 hours of driving), and 554 km from Abu Dhabi (equivalent to around 5 hours and 25 minutes of driving), Qatar is an ideal destination for an exciting holiday within close proximity.
