Tourism

With the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) due to open in 2016, the sultanate is taking a major step forward in establishing its position on the regional and global map for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE). Oman lies within seven hours flying time of around 50% of the world’s population, a geographical...

Whether it is a night deep in the Wahiba Sands in a fully air-conditioned tent, complete with en suite bathroom and minibar, or an ocean-view penthouse overlooking a secluded, private beach, Oman has a wide range of options for the luxury traveller. The sultanate has traditionally focused its tourism efforts on the high-end market, and prices...

The year 2015 unfolded as a banner one for tourism in Oman. Record visitor numbers and media coverage are tokens of the rising star of tourism in the sultanate, which is seeking to outgrow its status as niche luxury destination.

A steady increase in arrival numbers is demonstrating growth in Oman’s tourism industry, according to a new report from the country’s National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

While Egypt has faced several challenges in recent years, tourism remains one of its leading foreign currency exchange providers and the sector is a key contributor to both GDP and job creation. The sector has historically played a central role in the economy, with its total contribution to GDP rising from 8.5% in 1988 to a high of 19.5% in...

Although foreign visitor arrivals have held up relatively well in the face of recent challenges, declining only modestly, the domestic and regional travel segments are expected to fare better, helping to offset an overall decline in sector revenues forecast at 15% for 2015. Ayman Altaranissi, director-general of the Egyptian Tourism Federation...