Tourist attractions in Qatar are somewhat limited, with small museums, mosques, and historic sites being the primarily sites of interest. International tourists in Qatar numbered 435,000 in 1997, a 33% increase over the previous year. There have been more international conferences and visa restrictions have been relaxed. Qatar Airways increased routes, and a direct flight to London has been implemented. Most of the tourist arrivals are from Europe. Hotels rooms numbered 1,998 with 2,710 beds and a 78% occupancy rate.
In 2002, the US State Department estimated the cost of staying in Qatar at about $184 per day.