Qatar Deepens Tourism Engagement with Indian Market

The recently completed three-city roadshow by Visit Qatar in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata showcased Qatar’s renewed focus on expanding ties with Indian travellers, highlighting luxury, wellness, and experiential tourism offerings.

Roadshow overview and key messages

The roadshow brought together 18 Qatari tourism partners and a broad cross-section of Indian travel professionals to present Qatar as a short-haul, high-value destination. The events emphasized several competitive strengths: excellent aviation connectivity from multiple Indian cities to Doha, diverse product categories spanning beachfront resorts to desert retreats, and a calendar of global events that enriches seasonal demand.

Participants from the Qatari side included luxury hotels, destination management companies, and purpose-built wellness resorts—names such as Al Messila Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha, Banyan Tree Doha, Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas, The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa, The St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island, The Outpost Al Barrari, and Zulal Wellness Resort were among the showcased properties. Key travel service providers on the Indian and regional side included Ali Bin Ali Holidays, Mannai Travel W.L.L, Regency, Musafir.com, TravCo, and Travel Designer.

What was presented to Indian travel professionals

Sessions during the roadshow were curated to highlight:

• Flexible short-break itineraries combining culture, gastronomy, and wellness;
• High-end leisure options including luxury beachfront resorts and private island offerings;
• Wellness and medical tourism through dedicated resorts and purpose-built retreats;
• Event-driven travel supported by Qatar’s extensive global events calendar;
• Family and incentive travel solutions tailored to Indian demand patterns.

Partners table: who took part and what they offered

Context and recent performance

The engagement follows a strong 2025 performance, during which Qatar recorded more than 430,000 Indian visitors. This volume has been driven by a combination of frequent flight connections, increased seat capacity on India-Doha routes, and Qatar’s positioning as a compact destination where multiple experiences can be stitched into a short itinerary.

Visit Qatar’s approach emphasizes integrated product development: combining culture (museums, souqs, heritage sites), active experiences (desert safaris, dune adventures), and relaxation (beaches, spas, wellness). The roadshow aimed to shift perceptions of Qatar from a convenient transit point to a destination that can host multi-night stays centered on luxury, wellness, weddings, and incentive travel.

Historical perspective

Qatar’s tourism strategy has evolved considerably over the past two decades. Historically a hub for energy and commerce, Qatar began investing in tourism infrastructure and events to diversify its economy. Major milestones include the development of Doha’s cultural district, significant investments in luxury hospitality, and the hosting of high-profile international events that have raised the country’s profile among global travellers. These efforts laid the groundwork for targeted source-market strategies such as the roadshow in India, recognizing the region’s strong outbound travel demand and cultural affinity.

Implications for Indian travellers and tour operators

For Indian travel professionals, the roadshow offered practical tools to market Qatar as a multi-faceted destination. Potential travel products that can be developed include:

• Long weekend luxury escapes combining a marina-side resort stay with a cultural tour of Doha;
• Wellness retreats focusing on holistic treatments at purpose-built resorts;
• Celebration packages for weddings and milestones including private-venue options and event planning;
• Adventure and family itineraries that pair desert camps with coastal activities and beach time.

From a marine tourism and boating perspective, Qatar’s coastline, marinas, and private island resorts present opportunities for yachting and charter experiences that can be integrated into premium itineraries aimed at high-net-worth and experience-seeking travellers. Indian charter operators and tour wholesalers may find demand for short yacht cruises, day charters for fishing and leisure, and marina-based transfers to island resorts.

Forecast and significance for international tourism

Looking ahead, this roadshow is likely to support steady growth in Indian arrivals by reinforcing trade relationships and increasing product knowledge among travel sellers. As global outbound travel rebounds and demand for curated, experiential trips rises, destinations that offer easy connectivity and a wide spectrum of activities will outperform. Qatar’s emphasis on wellness, events, and luxury positions it well to attract travellers from India seeking short-haul alternatives to longer-haul beach and city breaks.

For international tourism, such targeted B2B engagements can accelerate the creation of tailored products—especially for honeymoon, wedding, and incentive segments—and promote cross-selling between cultural attractions and leisure amenities like marinas, water sports, and bespoke yachting services.

Practical takeaways for the travel trade

• Leverage strong air connectivity to market 3–5 night itineraries combining city and coast;
• Promote wellness and private-island packages during shoulder seasons to smooth demand;
• Collaborate with marina and charter operators to offer yacht-based add-ons for premium guests;
• Use trade events to co-create sample itineraries that make booking and pricing clearer for consumers.

The Visit Qatar India roadshow has reinforced the country’s strategy to attract Indian visitors through a blend of luxury, wellness, and curated experiences while strengthening ties with travel professionals. As Qatar continues to expand its events calendar and hospitality offerings, opportunities for yacht charters, marina activities, beachfront leisure, and tailor-made itineraries will grow, creating fresh product options for tour operators and travellers alike. For up-to-date news, destination guides, and to explore yacht and boat charter options that can complement travel plans to coastal or island resorts in the region, visit GetBoat.com — an international marketplace for renting sailing boats and yachts, ideal for finding the right yacht, charter, boat, or captain for beach, lake, sea, or ocean adventures; perfect for activities like fishing, yachting, and marinas-based excursions to match every budget and taste.