International Visitors Swarm to Qatar After the Blockade and COVID-19

In May of this year, visitor arrivals by land in Qatar surpassed those by air for the first time.

According to estimates, the number of visitors to Qatar in May this year surpassed the pre-pandemic rates by 25%, as officials continue to relax Covid-19 travel restrictions.

In May, about 166,000 international visitors arrived in the country, making it the month with the highest visitors so far in 2022. Furthermore, the figures represent more than a quarter of all visitors received in the first five months of this year.

The number of tourists arriving in Qatar has increased dramatically as a result of the May celebrations. In conjunction with special activities and events as part of “Eid in Qatar”, a great number of visitors have flocked.

In May, tourists from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) accounted for more than half (54%) of all arrivals, with Saudi Arabian tourists topping international arrivals throughout the month.

According to the most recent visitor arrivals data, Qatar's tourism industry is rapidly recovering, with a year-to-date total of 580,000 tourists quickly nearing the total number of visitors in 2021, which is set at 611,000.

Qatar Tourism just unveiled its June calendar of events and activities.

Abu Samra Border

Last year, nearly 17,000 passengers and 6,300 cars reportedly went through the Abu Samra border, according to customs officials. Trade and travel between Qatar and Saudi Arabia via the land crossing resumed in early 2021 after the Al Ula Declaration.

In the General Authority of Customs (GAC) monthly newsletter, Yousef Ahmad Alhammadi, Assistant Director of Land Customs Administration, noted, "During the Eid Al Fitr vacation, the Port witnessed a high movement of passengers, with 62,628 vehicles entering and exiting the nation."

According to the newsletter, GAC is equipped with leading X-ray inspection tools to ensure the swift and effective passage of passengers and commercial items.

The fact that people from all across the area can travel to Qatar in a variety of ways, including by land, air, and sea, makes the country extremely desirable.

Doha and Riyadh are 584 kilometers apart and a six-hour journey apart. It's only 554 kilometers from Abu Dhabi, which takes about 5 hours and 25 minutes to drive.

Those planning cross-border journeys should submit their customs declarations online, according to the customs officer.

According to a recent notification from the Ministry of Interior, the required insurance policy is now also accessible online for those entering Qatar through the Abu Samra border (MoI).

According to the Ministry of Interior, while applying online saves time, insurance coverage can still be bought physically at border crossings if the traveller wishes.