Culture

Doha’s Hotel Boom

Qatar is anticipating crowds for the 2022 World Cup but may be building too many accommodations
Reuters

Qatar is expecting company. The Arab state on the Persian Gulf has launched a $100 billion infrastructure program since being announced last year as the host of the 2022 World Cup. Part of the infrastructure being developed ahead of this mega event is a large amount of hotel rooms.

Currently, 77 new hotels and 42 hotel/apartments are slated for completion, which will add a total of more than 21,000 new hotel rooms across the country by the end of this year, mostly in Doha. About 6,300 opened in 2011 alone, according to Breaking Travel News. Qatar is roughly the size of Los Angeles County and home to just 1.6 million. This article from early 2011 notes that the Qatar Tourism Authority was hoping to see about 1.25 million visitors in 2011.