The hotel industry in Qatar has reported a 10% rise in occupancy during the first quarter of 2011, boosted by the Asian Football Cup and other major events held in Doha, according to data from the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA).
Average occupancy rates during the first three months of 2011 were 68%, compared to 59% a year earlier, according to QTA’s new statistics from.
Due to the Asian Football Cup held in Doha, the rate of occupancy in January 2011 was 24% higher than the same period last year.
The report said that during the first quarter of 2011, there were 48% more visitors from the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council to Qatar compared to the same period last year.
Qatar currently has 77 hotels and 42 apartment hotels under construction. 6,369 new rooms are expected to be added this year.
Qatar will host 2022 World Cup and is planning to add 55,000 hotel rooms by the time the tournament begins.
