Here’s how the Sultanate of Oman is seeking to attract global tourists to make its name in the tourism sector:

Increasing hotel options for tourists

The number of 3-5 star hotels has reached more than 1.6 million from January to October 2023 compared to the same period in the previous year as per the National Centre for Statistics and Information. The occupancy rate of these hotels was recorded at 53.7% with a 99% increase in October 2023 compared to the same time in 2022. 

This move accounted for a total revenue of more than 178 million OMR in 2023 for the Sultanate. The Omani government seeks to enhance its accommodation services in order to cater to the demands of the evolving tourism sector.

Investing in recreational projects

In order to keep the tourists engaged and entertained, it is imperative to keep evolving recreational sites while maintaining cultural integrity. Oman remains on top of its game here as well!

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism initiated major recreational projects for the purpose of tourism. Al Sharq, a recreational site project was disclosed by the Ministry earlier which is supposed to be located at the Blue City. It was scheduled to commence in 2024.

Another recreational project called Wilayat of Qurayat is in the works with an emphasis on marine activities and tourism. 

Collaborating Airline Giants 

Oman’s major airlines Oman Air and SalamAir have collaborated upon their codeshare to increase tourist activities and achieve Oman’s tourism goals. 

This shared commitment between the two giants is an initiative that will provide passengers with greater travel options with better service. The aim of the codeshare is to enable the passengers to have a greater number of destination choices and schedule options

Starting July 4, 2024, travellers can book their flight routes on SalamAir which will connect to the Oman Air network. Once the first phase is successfully implemented, more routes will be added at a later stage making travel to destinations easier for tourists in Oman. 

Easy Visa Process

Oman provides an easy and convenient visa process for Indians with the introduction of an e-visa service. No wonder more than 600,000 Indian tourists visited Oman in 2023! 

There is no long list of documents to produce making the visa process quick and hassle-free. All you need is a valid passport and a coloured passport-size photograph to get your Oman visa. 

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Tourist Camps Initiative

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism of Oman signed up ten new initiatives to boost tourism in the Sultanate. These contracts make up an investment of over 6 million OMR with diverse projects seeking to enhance the Omani experience for tourists.

These include infrastructural projects like 3-star hotels, luxury camps, nature resorts, luxury resorts, adventure centres, etc., to elevate the tourist experience by providing a blend of comfort and thrill. 

These contracts are a means of improving the tourism sector in Oman while creating better job opportunities, enriching the tourist experience and supporting local communities and the economy. 

If Oman keeps up with the trend of its tourism growth, it is projected to reach 10.8 million tourist arrivals by 2028 according to BMI. As for 2024, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) forecasted that Oman’s tourism sector will contribute significantly to the GDP with more than 3.3 billion OMR in 2024 producing more than 200,000 jobs nationwide.