Qatar sees stupendous year-on-year jump in visitors

Qatar saw a stupendous year-on-year jump in visitors, especially from the Gulf Cooperation Council and other Arab countries this July, reflecting in enhanced occupancy in the hospitality sector, particularly in the three-star category, according to the Planning and Statistics Authority (PSA) estimates.The total number of visitors was 38,289 in July 2021 against 1,836 in the previous year period, which witnessed restrictions due to the ongoing pandemic. It showed a 57.6% growth compared to that in June this year.The number of visitors from the GCC was 14,641 in July 2021 against mere 137 in the year-ago period. Such visitors registered 65.9% expansion month-on-month in the review period. The visitors from the Gulf region accounted for 38% of the total in the review period.The visitor arrivals measures non-residents travelling to Qatar on a short-term basis for all purposes. It includes arrivals at borders under different 15 visa classes, including all businesses and leisure visa types (excluding work visas).Of the total 38,289 people arrived, more than three-fourth came via airport; as much as 22% by road and the remaining about 3% through sea in the review period, according to the PSA data.The visitors from other Asia (including Oceania) stood at 19,587 in July this year against 892 in the corresponding period of 2020. On monthly basis, its growth was 78.8%. The visitors from this region accounted for 51% of the total arrivals in July this year.The visitors from the other Arab countries were 875 in July 2021 compared to 40 in the previous year period. However, it had seen a 32.7% decline month-on-month. The visitors from this region constituted 2% of the total visitor arrivals in July 2021.The visitors from the Americas stood at 795 in July 2021, which represented an 18-fold jump from 45 in July 2020. It had seen a 51.4% growth on a monthly basis. The visitors from the Americas accounted for 2% of the total in the review period.The visitors from the European countries grew more than three-fold year-on-year to 2,180 in July 2021. It saw 51.4% surge month-on-month. The visitors from this region accounted for 6% of the total in July 2021.The visitors from other African countries more than tripled year-on-year to 211 people this July. On a monthly basis, it nevertheless declined 15.9%. The visitors from this region accounted for 1% of the total in the review period.The PSA data found that the hotel and hotel apartments showed a robust performance in July with the overall occupancy rate at 60% compared to 40% in July 2020.In the five-star category, the occupancy was 55% in July 2021 (42% in July 2020), four-star 62% (52%), three-star 89% (60%) and two and one star 82% (50%).In the case of deluxe hotel apartments, the occupancy was 60% compared to 50% the previous year period and standard hotel apartments 78% (50%).The revenue available per room across the board has been QR278 in July 2021 compared to QR186 a year-ago period. In the case of five-star, it was QR417 (QR259), four-star QR144 (QR108), three-star QR164 (QR88) and two and one star QR119 (QR65).In the case of deluxe hotel apartments, the revenue available per room stood at QR195 (QR159) and it was QR138 (QR97) for standard hotel apartments in July 2021.The average room rate in the hotel and hotel apartments stood at QR463 in July 2021 compared to QR391 in the corresponding period of 2020. The average room rate in the five-star category was QR764 (QR619), four-star QR233 (QR207), three-star QR184 (QR147) and two and one star QR145 (QR128).In the case of deluxe hotel apartments, the average room rate was QR327 (QR316) and it was QR177 (QR193) in the case of standard hotel apartments in the review period.(Ends)