Short stay visa hike, easier visas for four countries in Oman

Muscat: Tourists visiting Oman will have to pay OMR20 for a short stay visa, in a move by Royal Oman Police (ROP) to replace the existing OMR5 fee. Tourists must now obtain the tourist visa for a minimum one month stay at the price of OMR20 –previously, they could buy a 10-day visa for OMR5.
Riaz Kuttery, Chief Operations Officer of Mazoon Travels, welcomed the new fee.
“It’s good. I don’t think this will keep people from visiting the country. If you compare Oman to other countries, their visa fees are much higher. “Our neighbouring countries charge OMR35 to enter.
I don’t think this will hinder business,” Kuttery said.
The amendment states that although the time period of the visa is one month, tourists are able to renew the visa for longer.
It shall be granted by the competent authority from all the legal ports of Oman to nationals as determined by them, at their request, as granted by the representatives of Oman abroad. An ROP spokesman declined to comment on the move.
Oman has also now made it easier for tourists from Iran, India, China and Russia to visit the country with a new e-visa framework.
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Tourism, the new e-visa Facilitation Initiative and Visa Procedures has been agreed with the ROP. These new tourist markets are being targeted by the Ministry of Tourism, part of the 15 tourism initiatives of the National Program for the Promotion of Economic Diversification.
Travel and Tourism offices and hotels with 3, 4, and 5 star ratings will be allowed to submit applications for the issuance of tourist visas from the General Directorate of Passports and Residence.
Tourists coming from the four countries and through hotels and tourism offices will be granted the necessary facilities for the issuance of tourist visas.
The ministry will be encouraging tourists coming to the Sultanate and facilitate the procedures for granting them tourist visas provided that they are under the umbrella of offices or companies or establishments, licenced and have a prior reservation.