“World Tourism Day 2026, under the theme ‘Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism’, comes at a time of significant change in how destinations engage with travellers and how people plan, access and experience travel. Qatar has been actively embracing this shift, alongside the continued evolution of its wider tourism offering. In 2026, the destination has maintained strong momentum despite regional challenges, supported by an increasingly diverse mix of attractions, culture, entertainment, family experiences, hospitality, gastronomy and outdoor activities. This is complemented by a growing programme of international and home-grown events, with the 2026/2027 Qatar Calendar bringing together more than 560 events in collaboration with over 780 organisations, creating more reasons to visit, explore and return throughout the year.
As our offering expands, our responsibility is to make experiencing Qatar as easy and intuitive as possible. Technology and AI are central to this ambition, enabling a more connected and responsive journey from the moment travellers seek inspiration and plan their trip through to accessing events and activities once they arrive. Visit Qatar was among the first in the region to introduce generative AI to tourism, and our AI-powered travel concierge is helping visitors explore the destination, build itineraries and plan their time through more personalised interactions.
We are building on this foundation with a unified digital ticketing platform, set to launch in the fourth quarter of this year. The platform will provide a more integrated gateway for visitors, event organisers, tourism operators and sector partners, streamlining access to events and activities and bringing more of Qatar’s tourism ecosystem together in one place.
We are also making it easier for visitors to stay connected with what is happening across Qatar. The new Visit Qatar Widget provides quick access to upcoming events directly from a user’s device, complementing the Visit Qatar app, which has surpassed 230,000 users in 2026, compared with approximately 105,000 in 2025. This growth reflects the increasing role technology plays in connecting audiences with the destination and helping them make more of their time in Qatar.
The opportunity ahead is significant. At Visit Qatar, our focus is on driving demand for the destination while continuing to strengthen the experiences that underpin its appeal. This means working with our partners to enrich Qatar’s events calendar, expand its leisure and luxury offerings, strengthen its position as a leading regional destination for business events, and champion service excellence across the tourism value chain. Through our international presence, global campaigns and digital platforms, we will continue to bring Qatar closer to audiences around the world, while supporting the sustainable growth of an industry that creates lasting value for the country.”
Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi
Chief Executive Officer of Visit Qatar
