Tourism
From The Report: Oman 2018
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While the focus on preserving Oman’s natural surroundings and cultural traditions has allowed the sultanate to retain much of the spirit of historic Arabia, the arrival of modern infrastructure and an emphasis on new sectors like activity-based tourism and ecotourism suggest the country is also adapting to the needs of the modern global travel market. Oman has some of the most diverse offerings in the Gulf region, including several UNESCO World Heritage sites, contemporary urban centres, and natural and coastal areas, yet it continues to rely on a few specific destinations and times of the year. While the country welcomed a record number of visitors in 2015 and 2016, the ultimate goal of transforming it into a year-round destination that appeals to a broader set of travellers continues apace. With the addition of the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, infrastructure initiatives, new hotels and other flagship developments, the country is well on track. This chapter contains an interview with Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mahrizi, Minister of Tourism.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Rising star: Efforts to attract higher numbers of foreign and local visitors gather pace
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While the focus on preserving Oman’s natural surroundings and cultural traditions has allowed the sultanate to retain much of the spirit of historic Arabia, the arrival of modern infrastructure and an emphasis on new sectors like activity-based tourism and ecotourism suggest that the country is firmly adapting to the needs of the modern global travel market. Oman has some of the most diverse offerings in the Gulf region, including several UNESCO World Heritage sites, contemporary urban centres,…

Analysis

No place like home: Encouraging domestic travel has become a key area of focus
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In addition to raising the overall awareness of Oman as a global destination and increasing the number of foreign visitors to the country, the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) and related agencies are actively seeking to tap the domestic market. By tailoring services specifically to locals, developing lesser known destinations, and creating specialised attractions and infrastructure, this push could have a strong impact on growing the number of nationals travelling around the sultanate. GROWING…

Interview

Open doors: Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mahrizi, Minister of Tourism, on how the Oman Tourism Strategy (OTS) is shaping the sector
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Interview:Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mahrizi In what way is strategy being developed to better promote Oman’s tourism offerings abroad? AHMED BIN NASSER AL MAHRIZI: The OTS provides a structured and comprehensive roadmap for future growth, from now until 2040, ensuring tourism’s importance to the economy. The OTS is based on two fundamental pillars: tourism clusters and unique experiences. Under the OTS, we will be creating geographic tourism clusters, which will include a wider variety of destinations and experiences for different categories of tourists, with the goal of encouraging extended visits and greater engagement with the country’s…

Analysis

Taking flight: Low-cost airlines are opening up possibilities to a broader set of travellers
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With the sector dominated by four- and five-star hotels, tourism in Oman relies heavily on luxury and business travellers. However, in recent years the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has been looking to tap other markets, including budget-conscious holiday makers. This approach has been aided by the arrival of cheaper airfares from foreign airlines and the establishment of Oman’s first low-cost carrier, SalamAir. Coupled with the building of more hotels outside of the five-star range, the appearance…

Analysis

Meeting expectations: Promoting the sultanate as a destination for conferences and exhibitions
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In recent years Oman’s tourism officials have focused their attention on the strong growth potential and revenue stream that comes with turning the country into a leading regional destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE). Relatively speaking, the sultanate is a new player in the sector, but with the opening of the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) in October 2016, those in the industry are hoping this is set to change. In its first eight months,…

Analysis

New luxury: Building on the country’s reputation as an upmarket destination, new offerings look to attract additional high-end clientele
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Oman has a strong reputation within the larger gulf region as being a high-end tourist destination offering attractive options for foreign visitors, mixed with stunning natural geography, cultural attractions and a growing number of sporting activities. Although efforts are now under way to diversify the sector, luxury tourism continues to play a dominant role in the landscape. “ Around 80% of the tourists who come to Oman are businessmen or luxury travellers looking for beaches and resorts,…