OCCUPANCIES across all hotels in Qatar reached 63 per cent in the first six months of 2011 compared to 61 per cent for the same period in 2010, according to the semi-annual report released by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA). The report said the increase shows the continued growth of the hotel sector despite the opening of a large number of new properties since the beginning of the year. Meanwhile, QTA reported the number of visitors was up by 12.3 per cent during the same period. The growth in the hospitality and tourism sectors is said to be due mainly to the interest of the Qatari government in increasing the number of tourist activities as well as sporting and cultural events held in the country; the continuous expansion of Qatar Airways and its fleet and the concerted efforts of QTA to maximise tourist attraction programmes. The report analysed the performance of the hotel sector during the first half of 2011. This included occupancy rates and number of business and leisure guest. It also highlighted the significant increase of tourists from GCC countries visiting Qatar, which was up 39.1 per cent compared with the same period last year. The performance of the hotel sector during the first months of 2011 was the best. Spurred by the Asian Football Cup and other sporting events held in Doha, hotel occupancy rates in January 2011 were 74 per cent , 24 per cent higher than in 2010. This strong performance continued through the month of February which witnessed a significant increase in occupancy rates from 60 per cent in 2010 to 66 per cent in 2011. During March, April, and May a slight decrease in occupancy rates was recorded but this had no effect on the average occupancy rate during the first half of the year. The statistics show a large increase in visitors from various parts of the world and especially from the GCC countries in the first six months, boosting the standing of Qatar on the regional tourism map. The number of international visitors was up 12.3 per cent compared with the same period last year. The number of GCC tourists visiting Doha registered an all time high with 398,570 visitors for the first half of 2011 compared to 286,484 for the same period in 2010. QTA chairman, Ahmed Al Nuaimi pointed out that in terms of GCC travellers to Qatar, Saudi Arabia recorded the largest increase in visitors from 148,168 in 2010 to 238,361 visitors from January to May of 2011 – a 60.87 per cent increase. The UAE came second with Doha welcoming 49,664 Emirati tourists compared to 38,736 in 2010.