Qatar Welcomes 2.614 Million Visitors and Advances 10 Places in Tourism Development Index

Qatar welcomed 2.614 million visitors in the first nine months of 2026, and the month of September recorded 276,000 visitors, an increase of 1.1% year-on-year, according to data reported by the 'Marhaba Qatar' website.

Visitors from GCC countries accounted for 1.069 million arrivals, representing 40.9% of the total, meaning that Gulf markets remain the largest source of inbound tourism traffic to Doha.

In terms of international rankings, Qatar advanced ten places in the global Travel and Tourism Development Index and recorded the largest global improvement in price competitiveness by climbing 48 positions, reflecting an improvement in the cost of its tourism services compared to its competitors.

This development is significant for the region's hospitality and aviation sectors, as the improvement in Qatar's competitive position enhances its appeal compared to other Gulf destinations and supports revenues for hotels and events that it relies on to diversify its economy.

What do these terms mean?

Travel and Tourism Development Index: An assessment issued by the World Economic Forum that measures countries' readiness and sustainability in the tourism sector.

Price Competitiveness: A destination's ability to offer its services at lower prices than others, which attracts more visitors.

Gulf Cooperation Council: A bloc comprising Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, which facilitates the movement of citizens and visitors among its member states.