Qatar is a premium, high-spend outbound market. Residents made an estimated 1.9 million outbound overnight visits in 2024, spending about US $13.5 billion abroad. Travellers typically plan digitally, favour premium airlines and high-touch agents for complex trips, and balance short regional breaks with long-haul shopping, culture, and family travel. VisitBritain.org
Industry trackers reported a ~65% jump in outbound departures from Qatar in 2023 as regional air capacity and disposable income grew, signalling a fast-rebounding, experience-led market. hotelmanagement-network.com
In This Market Guide
Key Takeaways
- High outbound value: 1.9 million trips and US $13.5 billion spend in 2024. VisitBritain.org
- Premium & digital: Strong reliance on Qatar Airways’ network, OTAs/metasearch, and luxury advisors.
- Regional + long-haul mix: Near-market GCC and Türkiye/Egypt remain core; UK and other Europe/Asia long-haul draw steady premium demand. hotelmanagement-network.com , Connecting Travel
Overview
Outbound travel from Qatar has scaled over the last decade alongside rising incomes, simplified visas to key markets, and Doha’s growth as a global hub. The market blends frequent regional getaways with long-haul seasonal trips for shopping, culture, health, and education. forwardkeys.com
Booking Behaviour
Travellers use a hybrid path:
- Direct & loyalty: Qatar Airways and partner carriers (global network ex-Doha). Wikipedia
- OTAs & metasearch: Booking-style sites and regional players help compare fares/hotels; Wego data shows strong GCC demand signals toward KSA, Egypt, India and UAE. Wego Company
- Advisors & premium DMCs: High-touch agents for multi-stop, medical, and luxury itineraries; airline holiday brands (e.g., Qatar Airways Holidays/Discover Qatar) bundle air + ground.
Lead times vary: short regional trips can be late-booked; long-haul summer and school-holiday trips are planned months ahead.
Travel Motivations
Leisure dominates, followed by VFR, business, medical and education-linked trips. Family and multi-generational travel is common; premium experiences, shopping, and dining are key spend drivers. Regional trackers consistently place Türkiye, Thailand, Egypt and GCC neighbours among top leisure picks, with UK/Europe important for longer cultural stays. Connecting Travel
Destination Preferences
Top outbound destinations (indicative ranking for Qatar residents, 2023–2024):
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
- Türkiye
- United Kingdom
- Kuwait
- Egypt
- India
- Bahrain
- Oman
- United States
Notes: Ordering triangulated from GlobalData’s Qatar outbound summary and GCC traveller preference signals (Mabrian/Wego). Public, Qatar-specific counts by destination are not released; UK inbound figures confirm ~84,000visits from Qatar in 2023. hotelmanagement-network.com , Connecting Travel , Wego Company , VisitBritain.org
Seasonal Patterns
Outbound peaks align with school holidays, Eid/Ramadan travel windows, and July–August summer escapes; shoulder-season European travel is also strong. Regional analytics note pronounced Ramadan/Eid surges for Middle East outbound. forwardkeys.com
Transport & Accommodation
Air is the dominant mode (Doha as hub). Travellers favour full-service carriers and business-class cabins for longer sectors; for short-haul GCC/Türkiye/Egypt, schedule convenience wins. Hotels (upper-upscale/luxury) and serviced apartments lead on long stays; branded residences and villas are rising for family groups. Wikipedia
Spending Patterns
Qatar ranks among the highest spenders per trip globally; US $13.5 billion outbound spend in 2024 underscores premium demand. Luxury shopping, fine dining, medical services, and curated experiences lift on-trip outlays; long-haul airfares contribute significantly to total trip cost. VisitBritain.org
Emerging Trends
- Premium family travel and multi-generational itineraries expanding across Europe and Asia.
- Event-led trips (sport, concerts, exhibitions) boosting long-weekend travel.
- Connectivity-led shifts: More seats and routes sustain Türkiye/Thailand/Egypt demand within GCC traveller cohorts; strong GCC outbound momentum reported by regional trackers. Travolution , Connecting Travel
Comparison Notes
Compared with other world groups, Qatari travellers:
- Are more luxury-oriented and family-group focused than many European markets.
- Combine frequent short-haul (GCC/Türkiye/Egypt) with select long-haul (UK/Europe/US/Asia).
- Are highly air-connectivity dependent, with brand/loyalty influence stronger than in many regions.
Conclusion
Qatar’s outbound market is small in volume but outsized in value—digitally savvy, airline-loyal, and premium-leaning. Winning strategies: lead with value-added luxury, family-friendly packages, and event/season-aligned campaigns; emphasise schedule reliability, seamless visas, and differentiated experiences.
Sources & References
- VisitBritain Market Profile: Qatar (outbound trips 1.9 m; outbound spend US $13.5 bn, 2024). VisitBritain.org
- HotelManagement-Network / GlobalData: summary of top outbound destinations from Qatar (Saudi, UAE, UK, Kuwait, Türkiye among others). hotelmanagement-network.com
- Connecting Travel (Mabrian): GCC outbound preference signals (Türkiye, Thailand, Egypt among top choices). Connecting Travel
- Wego (GCC outbound demand signals): Saudi Arabia, Egypt, India, UAE remain top destinations. Wego Company
- ForwardKeys (ME outbound surges around Ramadan/Eid). forwardkeys.com
- VisitBritain: 84,000 UK visits from Qatar in 2023 (context for UK’s rank). VisitBritain.org
Global Traveller Groups at a Glance
- Qatari travellers – High-spend, premium-leaning; frequent regional getaways; long-haul to UK/Europe/US/Asia; strong loyalty/brand focus.
- Continental Europeans – Structured planners, advance bookers, pronounced summer peaks.
- North Americans – Frequent short-haul + periodic long-haul; loyalty/credit-driven bookings; higher per-trip spend.
- Asian markets – Tech-savvy, multi-gen and group travel; rising premium share.
- Middle Eastern travellers (broader GCC) – High family/group incidence; premium retail and resort focus.
- Latin Americans – Fewer but longer international trips; cultural/diaspora ties.
- African travellers – Growing segment; regional/diaspora and affordability considerations.