RIYADH: Qatar achieved a significant milestone by welcoming over 4 million visitors in 2023, achieving a five-year high. This accomplishment, announced by the Qatar Tourism Authority, underscores the country’s success in leveraging the momentum of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, according to a press note. In a strategic move to facilitate travel, Qatar streamlined its visa procedure with the implementation of the Hayya platform earlier last year. The initiative simplifies the mechanism for travelers to enter Qatar and complements the nation’s liberal travel policies, which already allow visas on arrival for citizens from 95 countries. Additionally, a year-long calendar packed with events and engaging marketing campaigns has significantly contributed to the surge in tourism. Saad Al-Kharji, chairman of QTA, expressed pride in Qatar’s growing global appeal as a tourism destination. “Qatar’s diverse tourism offering, with its 500 km of pristine coastline, world-class museums, and cultural and contemporary destinations, combine to make for a unique and compelling holiday that can be tailored to suit regional and international travelers. New developments in Qatar’s tourism sector are ongoing, creating even further opportunities for growth,” he stated. Leading the influx of tourists to Qatar since the start of 2023 are visitors from Saudi Arabia, accounting for 25.3 percent of total international arrivals. They are followed by travelers from India with 10.4 percent, Germany with 4.1 percent, the UK with 3.9 percent and Kuwait with 3.5 percent.