New data from Qatar Tourism shows that the country welcomed more than two million visitors during the first half of this year.

May and June registered the highest figure (567,000) ever recorded for these two months in the last 10 years, while international arrivals in 2023 have so far doubled compared to levels seen pre-pandemic.

Arrivals by air constituted 51 per cent of all visitors, while arrivals by land and sea made up 37 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively, showcasing the growing enthusiasm for cruise holidays in the region.

Qatar Tourism chief operating officer Berthold Trenkel said: “These strong visitor numbers are testament to the determination, hard work and resilience of everyone involved in Qatar’s tourism and hospitality industry.

“With our ongoing roster of international events, industry-leading hospitality infrastructure and ongoing commitment to service excellence, Qatar is well on its path to becoming the Middle East’s fastest growing tourism destination.”

Much of the increase in visitor numbers can be attributed to the continued momentum in the country since the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Since then, a new campaign, ‘Feel More in Qatar’, has been promoted across a range of key markets, along with a series of events designed to showcase the country to its fullest.

Cruise support from Qatar Airways

For cruise visitors from the UK, more good news came recently, when it was revealed that Qatar Airways will return to Birmingham Airport, operating one flight a day, seven days a week, throughout the summer.

The resumption of flights from Birmingham aligns with the airline’s ongoing global network expansion – by the end of 2023, the airline will have returned to 10 destinations, and added four more routes across two continents.

Qatar Airways UK & Ireland country manager Gary Kershaw said: “As our fifth UK gateway, our return to Birmingham signals Qatar Airways’ strong commitment to the UK and reaffirms the positive relationship between the UK and Qatar.

“We’re looking forward to offering our customers in the Midlands region even easier access to our award-winning on-board product and service and our vast global network, via the Middle East’s best airport, Hamad International Airport in Doha.”

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