According to a recent study by UK security training outfit 'Get Licensed', Doha is among the 10 safest tourist destinations in the world.
Asia has five destinations in the top 10 list, Kyoto, Taipei, Singapore, Tokyo and Doha.
According to the survey, cities were ranked using several safety factors as parameters, including crime and homicide rates, trust in police and worries about being mugged or robbed. Get Licensed compiled results from 100 of the top global tourist cities.
In the survey, Doha ranked 10th and tied with Ljubljana (Slovenia) with a Global Holiday Safety Score of 7.56. According to the report, the city recorded a homicide rate of 0.42 per 100,000 people, which was one of the lowest in the world.
Only 8.94% of the respondents said they were concerned about being mugged or robbed, while 82.37% said they felt safe walking alone at night. Based on the Global Terrorism Index score, the city had the highest reliability of police score of 7.92.
Meanwhile, Reykjavik (Iceland), Bern (Switzerland), Bergen (Norway), Kyoto (Japan) and Taipei (Taiwan) were the top five cities. Along with Doha, Singapore (Singapore), Copenhagen (Denmark), Salzburg (Austria) and Tokyo (Japan) rounded out the top ten. According to the survey, Lagos (Nigeria), Lima (Peru), Mexico City (Mexico), New Delhi (India) and Manila (Philippines) were the least safe global tourist destinations.
Last year, Doha was ranked by Holidu as one of the safest cities for ‘solo women travellers’. The UK-based search engine for holiday rentals placed Doha as the 15th safest city for women to travel alone and the only place within the region included in the list of 50.
Qatar’s consistent ranking across several platforms as a safe and tourist-friendly destination has seen the country attract visitors, with a record number already recorded in the first two months of the year. With its high safety record, seamless public transport, pristine beaches, cultural sites, world-class sports events, and premium shopping experiences, Qatar has become a top destination for tourists worldwide to experience its unique blend of modernity and tradition.
According to Qatar Tourism, the country welcomed 730,000 visitors in January and February 2023, an increase of 347% from 2022. Around 340,000 international visitors were recorded in January 2023, a 295% increase year-on-year, and 389,000 visitors in February 2023 — a staggering 406% increase compared to last year.
In 2021, Qatar Tourism launched a new international multi-media campaign to drive forward the country’s tourism goals to welcome more than six million visitors a year by 2030. To highlight Qatar's status as a premium destination and the Middle East's top choice for well-traveled tourists, the Feel More in Qatar campaign was launched last year.