Qatar sees double-digit growth in visitors in August: NPC

Qatar registered a robust double-digit year-year-on-year growth in tourists’ inflow – especially from the Americas, Europe and Gulf regions this August; as its hospitality sector saw improved room yield, particularly in the four-star hotels and deluxe hotel apartment categories, according to the official estimates.

The occupancy comes amidst 328,059 visitor arrivals in August 2024. On a yearly basis, the total inflow of visitors rose 24.5% and 3.3% year-on-year and month-on-month respectively in the review period, according to the National Planning Council (NPC).

The visitors from the Gulf Co-operation Council or GCC were 133,319 or 41% of the total, Europe 70,600 (22%), other Asia (including Oceania) 65,634 (20%), Americas 28,219 (9%), other Arab countries 22,163 (7%), and other African countries 8,124 (2%) in August 2024.

On an annualised basis, the visitor arrivals from the Americas surged 56.5%, Europe by 45%, other African countries by 38.9% and the GCC by 18.4%; while those from other Arab countries declined 29.8% and other Asia, including Oceania by 7.2% in the review period.

On a month-on-month basis, the visitor arrivals from Europe shot up 29.7%, Americas by 23.3%, other African countries by 18.9% and other Arab countries by 8.7%; whereas those from the GCC were down 9.1% and other Asia, including Oceania, by 1.1% in August 2024.

Qatar's hospitality sector saw a 3.64% year-on-year increase in revenue-per-available room to QR228 as occupancy improved by 7% to 60%, while average room rate fell by 8.7% to QR378 in August 2024.

The four-star hotels saw a 13% higher occupancy to 63% and revenue per available room rose by 5.88% to QR126; whereas average room rate plunged 15.68% to QR199 in August 2024.

The deluxe hotel apartments registered a 15% surge in occupancy to 70% and revenue per available room by 23.68% to QR235 although there was 2.89% shrinkage in average room rate to QR336 in the review period.

However, the five-star hotels' room yield shrank 3.06% year-on-year to QR285 despite 4% rise in occupancy to 53% amid 8.74% contraction in average room rate to QR543 in the review period.

The three-star hotels' occupancy shot up 6% to 77%; even as room yield was down 5.56% to QR119 and average room rate by 13.97% to QR154 in the review period.

The two-star and one-star hotels' occupancy declined by 5% to 84%, room yield by 11.76% to QR120 and average room rate by 7.19% to QR142 in August 2024.

In the case of standard hotel apartments, occupancy tanked 20% to 52%, room yield by 30.86% to QR112 and average room rate by 4% to QR216 in August 2024.