Qatar has recorded positive hotel performance results in 2011 according to STR Global, reflecting increasing demand and interest in business and tourism as it prepares to host the 2022 World Cup.

Occupancy remained stable last year edging 0.4 per cent higher from 2010 while average daily rates increased 0.7 per cent STR Global said.

Meanwhile, more than 6,000 hotel rooms comprising of 25 hotels and ten hotel apartments opened up in the market in the third quarter of last year according to the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA).

Supporting these positive results, Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the leading travel exhibition in the Middle East, is witnessing strong online visitor interest months ahead of the event.

The number of pre-registered visitors from Qatar up is already up 133 per cent from last year, while the number of visitors who are interested in buying products and services from Qatar has risen 109 per cent.

“Over the coming ten years the rise in visitors to Qatar will be driven largely by the business sector as the Gulf state continues to put in place world-class infrastructure for the World Cup, and also beyond for its 2030 vision,” said Mark Walsh, portfolio director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

In addition to the construction of 12 new football stadiums, Qatar is building 77 new hotels and 42 hotel apartments ahead of the 2022 tournament.

Over US $100 billion worth of infrastructure is also due to be completed, including the new US $11 billion Doha International Airport, the US $6 billion Doha port project and a US $25 billion metro and railway system.

The number of tourist arrivals to Qatar is expected to reach as many as 3.7 million by 2022, up from 900,000 currently, according to the secretary general of Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, Hassan al-Thawadi.

The work of the QTA was recognised by the World Travel Awards in 2011, with the body taking the title of World’s Leading Business Travel Destination.