Tourism

Having welcomed record numbers of tourists in 2015, Oman’s government looked to build on this momentum a year later by unveiling plans to double international arrivals by 2040 and develop strategic tourism clusters across the country. The sultanate is eager to shed its reputation as a luxury destination and boost the performance of other segments in the coming years. The Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre is one development that can help broaden the sector’s reach, by firmly establishing the country as a major destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions. Meanwhile, the ecotourism and adventure travel subsectors are seen as ripe for development and promotion by the government. With a significant increase in hotel rooms in recent years and flagship development projects under construction across the country, Oman may soon emerge as a major destination, not just for regional tourists, but also for travellers from further afield. This chapter contains an interview with James Wilson, CEO, Oman Tourism Development Company