Mubasher: Hotels in Qatar have experienced a 5% year-on-year decline in occupancy and average rates during the first half of 2018, according to Qatar Tourism Authority’s report on Monday.

Occupancy rates reached 59% in all Qatari hotels with their different categories during the six-month period ended 30 June.

Most of the Qatari hotels’ performance retreated except three and two stars hotels, the report found.

During the period between January and June, around four hotels have been opened, adding 883 rooms to Qatar’s hospitality sector.

Moreover, the number of rooms grew 6% year-on-year to 25,810 in 122 hotels in H1-18, according to the state-run tourism authority. 

The number of visitors witnessed a 35% year-on-year drop during the first two quarters of 2018 due to the Arab blockade.

Since 5 June 2017, Qatar has been facing outflows of foreign customers' deposits after four Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia cut their diplomatic and trade ties with the gas-rich state, accusing Qatar of financing terrorism. Doha forcefully denies the charges.

The total number of visitors recorded 944,600 in H1-18, compared to 1.46 million in H1-17. As for visitors from GCC countries, they plunged 84% year-on-year to only 101,000 in the first six months of 2018.