Kicking off 2025 with strong momentum, Qatar welcomed more than 1.5 million international visitors between January and March, signaling a successful start to the year for the country’s tourism sector.

This growth reflects Qatar’s integrated tourism approach, which brings together high-profile events, strategic alliances, and a variety of destination experiences.

According to Qatar Tourism’s statement on Saturday, visitors from GCC countries made up 36 percent of arrivals, followed by 28 percent from Europe and 20 percent from Asia and Oceania, showcasing Qatar’s widening global appeal. The mode of entry further illustrated the country’s diversified access strategy: 51 percent of visitors arrived by air, 34 percent by land, and 15 percent by sea.

Eid Al Fitr 2025 marked the most successful holiday period in three years, with 214,000 visitors over eight days, a 26 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Nearly half (49 percent) of these visitors came from the GCC, an 18 percent rise year-on-year. Hotel occupancy reached 77 percent during the holiday, which is 10 percent higher than last year.

The hospitality sector mirrored this upward trend, with an average hotel occupancy of 71 percent and 2.6 million room nights sold. This surge was supported by key events such as Web Summit Qatar, the Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition (DJWE), and the Qatar International Food Festival.

HE Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Chair of the Board of Directors of Visit Qatar, said: “The achievements of the first quarter of 2025 demonstrate some of the planned outputs of our long-term approach to tourism development. Part of the development transcends into deepening collaboration across local, regional and international markets and continue to diversify source markets, enhance visitor experiences, and reinforce Qatar’s position as a dynamic, year-round destination. We are excited to have welcomed 1.5M in Q1 and look forward to welcoming more guests throughout this year.”