Qatar hits record visitor numbers in March

According to official data, 305.014 visitors traveled to Qatar in March, despite hotel occupancy rates dropped

Qatar drew a record number of visitors last month, as a total of 822.626 people entered Qatar since the beginning of the year. 2 per cent lower than last year, the figures indicate work, business and leisure visas.

Nevertheless, leisure visits went up by 6 per cent when compared to the same period of 2015. The increase is due to Gulf tourists, which number increased by 11 per cent since last year's same quarter.

Similarly, Saudi Arabia visits to Qatar increased by 16 percent, accounting for 14 per cent tourists from the UAE and 2 per cent from Bahrain respectively.

Meanwhile, hotel occupancy fell to 70 per cent this year, 14 per cent less than in the first quarter of 2015, governments figures show. To cope with the low rates, hotels in Qatar have also dropped their revenues, as much as 21 per cent per room.

Moreover, to increase occupancy during next months, hospitality experts forecast further decrease for hotel accommodation fees in the peninsula.