DOHA: A number of businessmen and tourism experts attributed the recent surge in the number of visitors to the State of Qatar to several reasons that Doha has worked on for years to diversify sources of income and not rely entirely on energy as a major source of national income, explaining that the distinguished infrastructure and the establishment of various tourism facilities come at the forefront of these reasons.

A group of businessmen and workers in the tourism sector considered that the success in organizing the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in an exceptional manner was the biggest factor to put the State of Qatar on the global tourism map, as well as the facilities provided by Doha for easy access to the country through the "Haya" card, whose validity has been extended until January 2024.

They stressed that the surge in visitor numbers is the harvest of 12 years of work since Qatar won the hosting of the World Cup, and expects the tourism sector to see a further recovery in the coming years.

Qatar Tourism Authority announced in a statement in recent days that the number of visitors to Qatar, during the months of January and February this year, increased by 347% year-on-year to 730,<> visitors compared to the same period last year, which confirms Doha's maintenance of the tourism momentum achieved by hosting the World Cup.

The authority added that Qatar started the new year by recording 340,295 visitors in January, achieving an increase of 389% year-on-year, and 2023,406 visitors in February <>, a record increase of <>% compared to the same period last year, and the data showed that last February witnessed the highest number of international visitors in the past ten years, except for the month that punctuated the World Cup, making it the busiest month for the Qatari tourism sector.

Qatar has recently opened many tourist and entertainment facilities (Shutterstock)

Haya Cardholders

For his part, tourism expert and owner of a tourism company Adel Al-Hail attributed the main reason for the increase in the number of visitors to the State of Qatar to the extension of the validity of the "Haya" card until January next year, as nearly 90% of visitors are holders of this card, according to his daily dealings in hotel reservations and flights with visitors, stressing the importance of working to expand the granting of visas, whether for visit or tourism, and not limited to holders of the "Haya" card.

He pointed out, in an interview with Al Jazeera Net, that Qatar is living the stage of harvesting the fruits of work that lasted for many years to equip a distinguished infrastructure that includes a network of roads at the highest level, metro lines and many tourist facilities, and the conclusion was an exceptional organization of an event that is the most prominent in the world, which is the 2022 World Cup, in a way that made Qatar the focus of the world's attention and opened the door wide for visitors from all countries.

Al-Hail added that many visitors to the World Cup were able to get to know the Arab and Islamic culture closely, and found in Qatar a new tourist destination that can meet their desires to travel and enjoy.

Qatar Tourism confirms that it is proceeding with a specific strategy for 2030, which aims to welcome between 6 and 7 million visitors annually, increase employment opportunities provided by the sector, and bring the contribution of the tourism sector to the GDP to 12%.

A new quality of visitors

For his part, businessman Ahmed Al-Khalaf told Al Jazeera Net that tourism is an important and influential part of the national economy in the State of Qatar, which has succeeded in putting its name on the global tourism map, thanks to its record of security and safety and the provision of an efficient transportation network, and its possession of a group of beaches, tourist attractions and heritage sites, expecting tourists from all over the world to continue to experience the unique combination that combines originality and modernity.

He pointed out that Qatar's success story in World Cup had the greatest impact in encouraging a new type of visitors from Europe, Latin America and others, away from visitors to neighboring countries and the Arab region only, as was the usual in previous years.

Al Maha Island is the most prominent modern tourist destination in the State of Qatar (Al Jazeera)

Al-Khalaf explained that the tourism sector has a great economic return on national income, as the increase in the number of visitors activates work and operation in many facilities and facilities in the country, such as hotels, transportation, markets, restaurants and aviation.

He added that tourism in some countries, such as Spain and Turkey, is a major source of economy, and if Qatar continues on the current path by focusing on tourism infrastructure, and facilitating entry and exit procedures, it will reach a very important stage that tourism is one of the reliable sources of national income for the country.

12 years of work

Businessman Abdullah Al-Khater confirms to Al Jazeera Net that Qatar has worked for 12 years to promote itself on the global map since it won the hosting of the World Cup, whether through its investments abroad, or focusing on building at home to reach the result that it was able to reach through the exceptional organization of the tournament.

He pointed out that Doha, which was recently crowned the capital of Arab tourism for 2023, was able to promote itself during the World Cup in all fields through organization, hospitality, security, safety and cleanliness of facilities and streets, which left a good impression on all visitors during the tournament, and left a positive impact on the hearts of fans who transferred their experiences to their families and friends after returning, and thus the promotion of Qatar was in the best way.

He explained that Qatar has recently worked on the opening of many tourist and entertainment facilities such as Al Maha Island, Qetaifan Island and Ras Bu Aboud Beach, in addition to the procedures and facilities provided by the state to enter the country in an easy manner through the "Haya" card, through which 3 other escorts can be hosted, which opened the way for more visitors to the country, and thus more spending, which ultimately contributes to increasing the country's GDP.