Qatar's Tourism Boom: 10.3% of GDP in 2023, 334,500 Jobs Supported
Qatar's tourism sector continues to flourish, with significant contributions to the country's economy. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reports that the sector's growth is robust, although detailed, long-term projections are not readily available.
In 2023, the tourism sector contributed around 10.3% to Qatar's GDP, a 31% increase from the previous year. This growth was driven by investments in infrastructure, luxury hospitality, events, and culture. The sector supported over 334,500 jobs in 2023, representing one in eight jobs nationwide.
The Middle Eastern Travel & Tourism sector as a whole grew by over 25% in 2023, reaching almost $460BN in GDP contribution. Qatar's domestic visitor spend reached QAR 1.4BN in the same year. Looking ahead, international visitor spending in Qatar is expected to reach a record QAR 69.6BN in 2024, while domestic spend is projected to reach QAR 12BN.
While the WTTC does not provide detailed, long-term projections for Qatar's tourism sector, it is clear that the sector is a significant driver of the country's economy. With continued investment and growth, the sector is expected to contribute over QAR 135BN annually to Qatar's GDP by 2034, employing nearly 458,000 people.