Qatar tourism spending surges 38%

Qatar’s tourism expenditure surged by 38 per cent in 2024, reaching QAR40 billion, while the hospitality sector surpassed 10 million hotel nights for the first time, state news agency (QNA) reported on Thursday, citing Qatar Tourism.

The total number of visitors rose to 5,076,640 in 2024, marking a 25 per cent increase compared to 2023, which saw 4,046,281 visitors.

In December alone, Qatar welcomed 594,079 visitors, a 14.6 per cent rise from the previous year and an increase of 74,000 visitors compared to November 2024.

Meanwhile in Q3 of 2024, Qatar recorded a merchandise trade balance surplus (difference between total exports and imports) of QR 57.7 billion down from QR 60.9 billion in Q3 2023.

According to figures released by the Planning and Statistics Authority on Wednesday Aand carried by Qatar News Agency (QNA), the value of Qatar’s total exports in Q3 2024 (including exports of domestic goods and re-exports) amounted to QR 87.8 billion. This decreased by QR 2.0 billion (2.2 per cent) compared to Q3 2023, which amounted to total exports of QR 89.8 billion. However, it increased by nearly QR 2.8 billion, or 3.3 per cent, compared to Q2 2024.

The Q3 2024 year-on-year (Y-o-Y) decrease in total exports was mainly due to lower exports of Mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials by QR 5.0 billion (6.5 per cent), and Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles by QR 0.1 billion (22.0 per cent).

On the other hand, increases were recorded mainly in Chemicals and Related Products n.e.s. by QR 1.5 billion (24.5 per cent), Machinery and Transport Equipment by QR 1.2 billion (53.3 per cent), Manufactured Goods Classified Chiefly by Material by QR 0.4 billion (17.1 per cent), and Crude Materials, Inedible, Except Fuels by QR 0.1 billion (24.8 per cent).

The value of Qatar’s imports in Q3 2024 was QR 30.1 billion; increased by QR 1.2 billion (4.1 per cent) compared to Q3 2023 imports of QR 28.9 billion and decreased by nearly QR 0.3 billion or 1.1 per cent compared to Q2 2024.