Qatar has recently been welcomed into the United States Visa Waiver Program, allowing citizens from both nations to travel visa-free. This marks the first addition to the program this year, making Qatar the only country in the Gulf region included.
However, Qatar’s addition is less about its appeal as a travel destination and more about its commitment to assist the U.S. on security issues. The Visa Waiver Program permits visitors from participating countries to stay in the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa, provided these nations meet specific standards related to counterterrorism, law enforcement, immigration control, and border management.
Qatar has made significant efforts to meet the stringent requirements set by the U.S., particularly in collaboration on sharing information related to terrorism and serious crimes. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that Qatar’s achievement in satisfying security criteria will strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries and boost trade and travel.
Ranking as the 42nd country in the program, Qatar follows Croatia and Israel in recent additions. Despite the new visa arrangement, tourism from the U.S. to Qatar remains modest, with around 4% of total arrivals coming from American travelers. Up to August of this year, approximately 129,000 U.S. tourists visited Qatar out of 3.28 million international arrivals.
In efforts to attract more visitors, especially post-FIFA World Cup 2022, Qatar continues to market itself as a tourist destination. The country has a large number of hotel rooms available, having added 10,000 rooms since early 2022, bringing the total to nearly 40,000. Yet, without large events, the tourism sector faces challenges, with average hotel occupancy rates falling to 58% in 2023, at around $112 per night.
To draw in travelers, Qatar Airways has rolled out new stopover packages that enable visitors to spend up to four nights in Doha, complete with discounted accommodations and activities. There are also transit visas available for those passing through, alongside tours designed for layover travelers spending six hours or longer in the country.
