Maria Quintero
Qatar – Beyond the World Cup
Maria Quintero | October 23, 2023
By Maria Quintero The 28-day soccer event was a major success for Qatar. A cumulative of 3.4 million football fans attended the tournament and average occupancy across stadiums was recorded as 96.3%. The country welcomed 1.18 million international visitors, representing 412% and 318% year-on-year increase throughout November and December. Hotels and resorts achieved the highest-ever performance, registering a marketwide ADR of QAR 2,112 and RevPAR of QAR 1,281 in December 2022, a 328% and 286% year-on-year increase, respectively. Nonetheless, months after Argentina cheerfully lifted the trophy, for some, the uncertainty remains: what ...
Jordan’s Soaring Tourism Sector
Maria Quintero | July 25, 2023
By Maria Quintero Jordan’s cultural legacy includes over 100,000 archeological sites, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and religious landmarks. It is also a leader in medical tourism. Prior to Covid-19, it welcomed 250,000 foreign patients, contributing to over USD 1 billion in revenues per year. Likewise, spa and wellness services have flourished on the shores of the Dead Sea. Tourism contribution The tourism sector plays a fundamental role in the country’s economy. The latest available data reports the industry rebounded from the pandemic-driven slowdown, accounting for 10-13 percent of Jordan’s 2022 GDP, bringing in USD 5.8 bil...
Indisputable Success – The UAE
Maria Quintero | June 21, 2023
By Maria Quintero, Hala Matar Choufany Throughout the last decade, the UAE has established itself as a leading regional and international tourism destination. Over 22 million international visitors in 2022 - almost on par with pre-pandemic levels - along with the UAE’s game-changing infrastructure, year-round sunshine, top-class tourism attractions, and rich cultural heritage, reinstated the country’s positioning as one of the strongest business and leisure markets in the world. As of 2022, UAE, the second largest economy in the Arab world, ranked at the top of the Travel & Tourism Development Index in the MENA region and among ...