Qatar’s Travel and Tourism sector is expected to contribute QAR 90.8 billion to its economy this year, which is 11.3 percent of the total, as revealed by the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2024 Economic Impact Research (EIR).

Following a record-breaking year in 2023, the sector is also on track to create jobs for more than 334,500 people across the country, a figure that represents 15.8 percent of the total workforce, VisaGuide.World reports.

Looking ahead to 2024, international traveler spending is expected to rise significantly, with projections indicating a record expenditure of QAR 69.6 billion, while domestic spending is forecasted to reach QAR 12 billion.

2023 Set New Records in Qatar’s Tourism Industry, Surpassing Previous Peaks

The WTTC report also shows that last year, Qatar’s Travel and Tourism sector set new records regarding GDP contribution, jobs and domestic traveler spending, surpassing previous figures.

As a result, the GDP contribution from the tourism sector surged by 31 percent, hitting a historic high of QAR 81.2 billion, accounting for 10.3 percent of Qatar’s total economic output.

Moreover, the sector was a major driver of employment, adding over 20,300 new jobs, bringing the total to nearly 286,000 jobs nationwide, equivalent to one in every eight jobs in the country.

Domestic spending by travelers also hit a new peak at QAR 1.4 billion. Despite hosting the FIFA World Cup the year before and seeing a nearly 40 percent increase in spending by international visitors to QAR 60.4 billion, it fell short of the previous peak by QAR 1.2 billion.

While international visitor spending is lagging behind the previous peak, the government’s efforts and emphasis on collaboration will propel Qatar’s Travel & Tourism growth, setting the stage to play a crucial role in the national economic landscape, promising a future defined by prosperity and opportunity.

Qatar Expects to Create 458,000 New Jobs by 2034

By 2034, the global tourism industry is anticipated to boost its yearly GDP contribution to over QAR 135 billion, constituting nearly 13 percent of Qatar’s economy. This growth trajectory is expected to create employment opportunities for almost 458,000 individuals throughout the country, with one out of every five residents finding employment within the sector.

Moreover, the Travel & Tourism sector in the Middle East witnessed a remarkable 25 percent growth in 2023, amounting to nearly $460 billion. This surge translated into almost 7.75 million jobs and a 50 percent increase in international expenditure, reaching $179.8 billion. In addition, domestic spending by visitors surged by 16.5 percent, crossing the $205 billion mark.

According to WTTC forecasts, the Travel & Tourism sector in the region is poised for sustained growth throughout 2024, with the GDP contribution projected to hit $507 billion. Job opportunities are expected to increase to 8.3 million, international visitor spending is forecasted to reach $198 billion, and domestic visitor spending is anticipated to exceed $224 billion.