Qatar ranks third in Middle East tourism

I would never come to Qatar as a tourist. I would go to Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Tunesia and Dubai, but would consider Qatar as a stopover only for 1 or 2 days. There is not that much to see and naturaly beauty nada. Okay, they desert is nice, but they have that in Dubai too and in many other Middle East countries.What I also don't understand how could Bahrain will be the second one. There is really not much to see there and they don't even have a good airline to be considered as a stopover destination.I really can't imagine someone to buy return ticket, book a week in a holiday just for the sole purpose of holidaying in Qatar. Maybe only if I have been to over 150 countries, seen most of the world and now I have lots of time and money. 

Qatar is more 'tourist' than Egypt? Are they dreaming? :)

Qatar seems to own most of London so one cannot compare the two!!

Qatari guns for hire would ensure the insurrectuion in London would not happen here 

cigrettes lol...who knows... was there any pridiction for sensible, educated, well mannered city like london?

No way something like the London riots happen in Qatar.  What RU smoking?

ROTFL!!!!...just goes to show how wealth can make people so completely disconnected with reality!!!....

Yup i heard that..you want that to be in qatar also?

ingeniero--did you hear of the london riots?

what about here Mr. 2012olympics? qatar is safe??did you heard that QR 8 million worth gold has been stolen from a jewlery shop in doha.. news is maximum 15 days old. did u heard about that on Tv or any media? if qatar stop screening news, then we will hear alot like this, and will know that how much SAFE is qatar?and who knows how much maids are rapped, killed here.. 

I'm here for the $$$$$ 2012Olympics, purely and simply...London might not be as safe as Doha but its a darn sight more appealing as a tourist destination than this sand pit...

You are here Raven1968.  So you must know Qatar is a good place and welcoming to tourists.  We have many places to see and visit.  Qatar is safe also.  How many tourists will be robbed, killed, and assalted in London next summer during the Olympics?

now you are just been plain ridiculous 2012Olympics, please post in the funnies next time

If they used to be number 37 and now they have dropped to number 42 they aren't doing a very good job of getting to number 1. 

By 2022 Qatar will be first in ME and first in world!

You have to check th Primary schools enrollment before deciding about your holidays!!!!

Now this makes sence.

The report’s findings are based on criteria including: How easy it is for people to get a visa to the country, Openness of bilateral Air Service Agreements, Time required to start a business, Cost to start a business, Carbon dioxide emissions, Threatened Species, Environmental Treaty Ratification, Road Traffic Accidents, Physician Density, Access to improved sanitation, Access to improved drinking water, Hospital Beds, Number of Airports, Number of Airlines, Number of Rental Car Companies, Number of ATMs accepting Visa Cards, Number of Telephone Lines, Internet users, Mobile phone subscribers, Petrol prices, HIV prevalence, Primary and Secondary Education Enrollment… All the things that I think about when choosing a holiday destination.

Safe........allegedly.......Who wants to go to a 'safe' place and do, see and experience......quite frankly..nothing....

Death-note, you're delusional........................................!!

I rather suspect that Qatar's "popularity" is a combination of the points raised by MBK above ie manipulation of the statistics concerning entry into the country combined with the fact that most of the countries on the list provided by Fubar are or have recently been in the midst of the Arab Spring movement/uprising meaning that some of these countries are off the radar of genuine tourists for obvious reasons - therefore by default, although globally falling in its appeal to tourists, in competition with the MENA region, of course Qatar is climbing - it has safety on its side, but frankly, not a lot else!!!!

may I know why?If it's true or not true, will it affect your daily routine?  Will it add food on your table?  Will you sleep more comfortably?Just ignore it and less stress on yourself! Lol! 

I read this and wondered what planet those statistics are from? Qatar a tourism country??? No Way!!!Get real! There is nothing here whatsoever to attract tourists!!

What about beautiful places such as Jordan, Oman, Tunisia????They've got to be joking!!

Same as the joke that Qatar Airways Cabin Crew have been voted for the 5th year as the best cabin crew!!! WTF?? Which planet is that on??!!!!!

I've akways been shocked with this rankings. I'm so curious to know how they do it.

Is it about how clean and tidy the country is? or as many expressed above; why to go there? what to do, what arethe variaties? what' so unique in this country? then come the facilities issues.

Even if it is pure statistics; shouldn't the number of booked night per annum be the main criterion or is it a ratioo of the country's population or so?

Disputing these criteria doesn't the list below count:

- More than one third of world historical heritage

- More than 2000km of beaches with many top ranked diving sites

- Little less than 1 million Sq. Km. of desert with over a hundred national parks of the rarest sites worldwide

- More than 1000 Km of a river with the evolutionary scheme from 7000 years back till the sky scapers.

How such a list doesn't count or can be beaten by simply being clean and tidy.

I'm sure lots of people love Lebanon.  I just don't happen to be one of them. End of story.

Lebanon its been rebuilt and beautiful then ever and why its not middle east country explain to me (Mr. Europe guy)

As a politician once said:

"there are lies, damn lies and statistics"

About says it all

Lebanon doesn't count as a Middle Eastern country for the purposes of the survey.  Although even if it was I went there once and that was more than enough for me. I'll go back when they get around to rebuilding it, otherwise I'll stick to Europe.My simple point is trying to work out which is the 'best' Middle Eastern tourist destination is like trying to work out which is the 'best' brand of mutton.

so your saying that the first 5 countires are more popular then

Lebanon

syria

jodan

morocco

egypt

sorry man but your taveling to the wrong places

I haven't been to Algeria, but I have actually been to all those other countries.  There are only 13 countries in the 'Middle East' that the report used (I'm assuming you actually read the report and the rankings?) and the list is as follows: UAE Bahrain Qatar Tunisia Oman Saudi Jordan Egypt Morocco Kuwait Syria Algeria Libya I'm surprised that Qatar beat Oman.  Otherwise, the list looks pretty much in line with my experiences as a traveller (although I'll confess to never having been to Libya, Algeria, Kuwait or Jordan).

You got to be crazy 3rd. The middle east is BIG and beautiful sorry  Qatar is nice but not 3rd ........

You got to be crazy 3rd in middle east is BIG and beautiful sorry but qatar is nice but not 3rd ........

You got to be crazy

survey was done is July and August? adn mobile phone subscribers (6) mean they have the large number of subscribers or they have 6th best network coverage in the world? didn't get it.. someone plz explain!

And slipping down the list don't forget

Third in the Middle East huh?  Wow... so higher than what? Yemen? Saudi? Kuwait?? That's like saying that Landmark is Doha's 3rd favorite mall after City Center and Villagio.  Being the 3rd best on a list of crap alternatives is nothing to be proud of.

I think they must be assuming it on the following factors.1. No of Visitor Visa issued, 90-95% percent of the Visit visa issue are either to people who buy these visas to come and look for work, people who are visiting friends and families and people who may come to visit the sporting events. So that just leave around 5% of people who may be considered the true tourists who actually come and stay in Hotels and just you may see them wondering in Souq Waqif looking for a reasonable place to eat.2. Also they must also include the thousands of people who are working here on Visa and just conveniently leave the country and re-enter again every two months.3. Also they must also include people who do the similar kind of Visa runs from other GCC countries.4. A handle full of Saudis who might come here to quence their thrist.Now have I missed anyone?

Tourism and Qatar dont rhyme well...rest all is arguements depending on which side you are.

Nice jjjjjjjjjjjj75 I like your analogy

Yes Slapper... I also raised an eyebrow when I read that.

Slapper and there's the rub, they have all of these things but nothing to see/do, it is like paying to go into an amusement park with no rides

I note :high quality human resources (18), good tourism infrastructure (34) and excellent air transport infrastructure. are the authors of the report serious? 

Qa) Would you come on holiday to Qatar?b) What alternative options would you have for the same money?c) What is unique about Qatar, that you can find nowhere else in the world? My Aa) I don't know possibly. I guess it would depend on price.b) Ah... there is the problem... Qatar is not cheap. Air travel is so expensive, as are the hotels that are worth staying in. I could go to so many other destinations with far more attractions for the same money.c) Errrrr....

this is a straightout lie.