Tourism
From The Report: Oman 2025
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Tourism is a key focus of Oman Vision 2040, with the government aiming to strengthen the sector through both public and private investment. Over the past decade, the industry has shown consistent growth, recovering well after the Covid-19 pandemic, with visitor arrivals nearly reaching pre-pandemic levels. The government is committed to sustainable tourism development, demonstrated by the creation of more national parks and a focus on community development. By encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in the sector, the government hopes to stimulate local economies. As Oman continues its economic diversification beyond hydrocarbons, tourism is expected to play an increasingly important role, contributing significantly to the country’s growth and providing new opportunities for both local businesses and international investors. The emphasis on sustainability and community involvement ensures that tourism development will benefit the sultanate in the long term.

This chapter contains interviews with Salim M Almahruqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism; and Hashil Al Mahrouqi, CEO, Oman Tourism Development Company

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Broad horizons: Improved infrastructure across the country and ambitious investment commitments are catalysing sectoral growth
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The Oman Vision 2040 development strategy identifies tourism as a key economic focus, with the government hoping to strengthen the sector through public and private investment. Over the past decade, the industry has experienced consistent growth and has recovered following the Covid-19 pandemic, with visitor arrivals almost back to 2019 levels. The government of Oman aims to develop the sector sustainably through the creation of more national parks, and put an emphasis on community development to stimulate local economies through small and medium enterprise (SME) participation. As Oman diversifies its economy beyond hydrocarbons, tourism is expected…

Interview

Cultural riches: Salim M Almahruqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, on promoting sustainable investment and adopting a strategy that balances heritage preservation with expansion
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Interview: Salim M Almahruqi Which strategies are being implemented to develop tourism following the Covid-19 pandemic? SALIM M ALMAHRUQI: Oman Vision 2040 guides policies in heritage preservation, job creation, capacity building and regional development. It forms the basis of the Oman National Tourism Strategy 2040, outlining sustainable tourism goals and priorities. The success of the khareef (monsoon) season underscores the significance of domestic and regional tourism, attracting over 1m visitors…

Interview

Sustainable journey: Hashil Al Mahrouqi, CEO, Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran), on handling growing numbers of international visitors
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Interview: Hashil Al Mahrouqi How is Oman Vision 2040 shaping the direction of the tourism sector’s expansion? HASHIL AL MAHROUQI: Oman Vision 2040 has shaped the development of the tourism sector, contributing to a significant increase in arrivals in 2023 in comparison to the previous year. The results of this vision are evident in the growth of the industry’s contribution to GDP, higher occupancy rates in hotels and increased revenue. The fact that Oman has surpassed pre-Covid-19 pandemic…

Analysis

Round trip: Fuelled by sustained development efforts, digital innovation and growing consumer spending, global travel is staging a comeback
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The global tourism sector has largely recovered from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the UN Tourism’s World Tourism Barometer published in January 2025, international tourism ended 2024 at 99% of pre-pandemic levels, with an estimated 1.4bn international arrivals. This revival has been underpinned by the release of pent-up demand, increased air connectivity and a resurgence, especially in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. These factors indicate a strong rebound, with this optimistic outlook further supported by growing consumer confidence. However, the rebound has been uneven across different global regions. The Middle East…