Oman Tourism

With solid growth in arrivals projected for the next few years, Oman is preparing to accommodate an increase in demand with new hotel developments.

An extensive study to develop a long-term strategy for tourism is underway in Oman after the minister responsible for the sector acknowledged that although solid progress had been made in recent years, the industry has not yet reached its full potential.

With Muscat having been named the Arab Tourism Capital for 2012 and the country becoming increasingly popular with visitors from around the globe, Oman’s tourism sector is gaining attention from local and international investors who are building new hotel and property developments. To go along with the accommodation offerings, there is also a need for additional entertainment and leisure facilities to fill niche markets and create demand.

Oman’s tourism industry is set to maintain its steady rate of growth over the coming decades as public and private investment in the sector helps broaden the range of facilities and improve services, though the Sultanate will have to contend with increased competition in the region as other Gulf states also seek to attract overseas visitors.

Cruise ship passenger arrivals at Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat are expected to reach a record 231,100 for the 2010/11 fiscal year ending in June – a year-on-year increase of 72%. The total number of cruise ship visits to the port is also forecast to increase to 94, up from 78 in 2009/10.