Saturday 16 / November / 2024
Muscat: Oman is eyeing a growth of 8 to 12 per cent in the tourism sector, a senior official from the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) said.
Speaking to the Times of Oman, Maitha Al Mahrouqi, the undersecretary of MoT, said: “We are actually looking at a growth of 8 to 12 per cent minimum, every year in tourism.”
Regarding new projects, she said: “The biggest airport will open; the convention centre was opened recently and we hosted the first exhibition. Then there are a few five-star hotels, which are in the pipeline and will open next year.” Regarding the launch of the new budget airline SalamAir, she said: “First of all, I would like to congratulate SalamAir for launching the logo of their brand; I wish them all the best,” said Al Mahrouqi.
“For sure, low-cost carriers are very important for the economy and also create new source markets, as we all know there are many airlines in the region, including for low-cost carriers, which helps us target new markets,” said Al Mahrouqi.
Industry experts, however, said Oman can easily achieve a growth of 12 per cent in the tourism sector in 2017. “The country is so beautiful and it has so much to offer. Be it sea, mountains, rich culture, excellent infrastructure, no pollution and on top of that the safest tourist destination in the world. The Ministry of Tourism and OMRAN (Oman Tourism Development Company) are fully focused on the growth of tourism in the country.”
Vijay Handa, cluster general manager, Masirah Island Resort and the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve, said, “The team at OMRAN is not leaving any stone unturned to attract tourists from all over the world with special attention being given to India and China. The approach is very positive from all stakeholders. There had been a setback in 2015 and also in 2016, but the hoteliers are fully geared up for 2017. With all the positive vibes around, I am very confident that we will surely be in line with the given targets, which should not be difficult to achieve. We are expecting flexible and friendly tourism policies to boom the other overall business scenario in the country. The new Oman Convention Centre has opened with a bang, and will host mega international conventions, which will help boost tourism further.”
Nuno Neves, cluster general manager, Park Inn by Radisson Muscat and Park Inn by Radisson Hotel and Residence, Duqm, said sustainability is the future of tourism. “Oman’s Ministry of Tourism is working towards being sustainable; definitely there will be growth in the country’s tourism. They already have a lot of successful certifications for environmental projects to correlate and ensure that there are sustainable ways to maintain the environment. Park Inn by Radisson Muscat and Park Inn by Radisson Hotel and Residence Duqm are Green Key certified hotels, a label awarded to around 2,400 hotels and other businesses worldwide, acknowledging their commitment to eco-friendly business practices.
“Both hotels have built close ties to the local community through its corporate responsibility programmes, participating in activities, such as beach clean-ups, recycling drives and supporting local charities. In addition, our Park Inn Muscat is the first certified safe hotel in Oman and the certification for Park Inn Duqm is on the way. It is an independently verified safety and security, and best practice in hotels and meeting venues. The certificate, according to The Global Hotel Security Standard, makes communication between hotels, meeting venues and the travel industry easier,” Neves stated.
“As I am new to Oman, I’ve heard great things about this country. Well, to see is to believe as they say. The slogan of Oman’s MoT, ‘Beauty has an address’ is indeed remarkable. Oman is like the gem of the Middle East. It is not all desert. The first thing you didn’t know about Oman is that you can spend and enjoy the summer during the heat. Plenty of activities to do with the spectacular mountains, wadis and beaches, which is perfect for travellers.”
“From camping, trekking and hiking to marine activities, such as parasailing, sailing, diving, snorkelling and dolphin watching, Oman has a lot to offer. This year, our two Park Inn hotels in Oman collaborated again with Oman’s Ministry of Tourism to promote, ‘Discover Oman this Summer.’ Park Inn Muscat and Park Inn Duqm are also offering attractive packages during this period,” he said.
