Doha, January 01 (QNA) - Qatar has crossed 4 million visitors, exceeding annual visitor numbers of the past five years.

Announced by Qatar Tourism in a statement today, since the beginning of 2023, leading Qatar's tourism figures are visitors from Saudi Arabia (25.3 percent of total international arrivals), followed by India (10.4 percent), Germany (4.1 percent), UK (3.9 percent) and Kuwait (3.5 percent).

It added that to date, 85 percent of visitors chose to arrive by air, followed by land (14 percent), and sea (1 percent).

Qatar Tourism said that the latest figures highlight the positive momentum of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the country's ongoing efforts and initiatives to promote its tourism sector.

Earlier this year, Qatar announced the seamless operation of the Hayya platform to unify and simplify visa processes for travellers who require a visa to enter Qatar. These efforts complement Qatar's already open travel policies which see 95 countries granted visa on arrival.

HE Chairman of Qatar Tourism Saad bin Ali Al Kharji said, "Qatar continues to demonstrate its appeal as a global tourism destination with its expanded tourism infrastructure, safety, and authentic Arabian hospitality. Qatar's diverse tourism offering, with its 500km of pristine coastline, world-class museums, cultural and contemporary destinations, combine to make for a unique and compelling holiday that can be tailored to suit travelers from the region and internationally. New developments in Qatar's tourism sector are ongoing, creating even further opportunities for growth." Qatar's year-long calendar of events and captivating marketing campaigns have supported the increased tourism figures. (QNA)