Qatar’s hospitality sector continued to expand in the third quarter of the year as the total number of visitors reached 2.2 million, representing an increase of 7.7 per cent year-on-year.

GCC residents accounted for 45.2 per cent of the total visitor numbers, while visitors from Asia and Europe accounted for 25.3 per cent and 13.9 per cent respectively.

Traditionally, during Q3 2015 visitor numbers in Qatar dipped to average growth rate of 13.7 per cent compared to the rate of 22.2 per cent during Q2 2015, driven by the seasonal nature of the tourism industry. Nevertheless, authorities shared a positive sentiment regarding the country’s target of attracting 3 million visitors by the end of the year and the long-term government vision of reaching a targeted 7 million visitors by 2030.

According to a third-party industry report, Qatar’s hotel establishment room supply grew by 5 per cent in Q3, compared to the corresponding period in 2014, bringing the total number of hotel establishments in the country to 118. The hospitality sector in Qatar currently accounts for 17,900 keys, 84 per cent of which are positioned at four- and five-star levels.

Official government statistics revealed that hotel occupancy rates in H1 witnessed an increase of 2 per cent y-o-y and stood at 75 per cent. Notwithstanding, Q3 statistics indicated a 2 per cent-decline in occupancy rates, mainly due to the summer season. Occupancy rates in September across all hotel categories dropped from 74 per cent in 2014 to 70 per cent in 2015. Additionally, ADR and RevPAR performance indicators in September witnessed a decrease of 1.7 per cent and 6.8 per cent y-o-y respectively.

Recent hotel announcements, which took place included Centara Grand West Bay Hotel Doha, to be completed in 2016, the 240-key dusitD2 Salwa Hotel and the 240-key Aloft Doha, which are scheduled for completion in 2018 and 2019 respectively. With regards to upcoming hotel supply, QTA forecast that an additional 13 properties, comprising approximately 2,500 rooms, will enter the market within the last quarter of 2015. – TradeArabia News Service