Oman conducts tourism road show in Italy

Muscat: Oman's Ministry of Tourism conducted road shows in Rome and Milan to attract tourists from Italy by showcasing tourism attractions in the country.
His Excellency Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mahrizi, Minister of Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, who was on a first official visit to Italy, unveiled plans for Oman’s tourism development at the roadshow that opens in the prestigious frame of Palazzo Brancaccio in Rome on November 9, which concluded on November 12 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Milan.
“Authenticity and hospitality, these are the values that best outline the profile of Oman as a tourism destination. Building a destination's brand requires time, fund and a long-term commitment. In Oman, we have understood how the tourism industry contributes to the development of the country and its economic growth, creating jobs and opportunities for local businesses. Over the next 25 years, the Sultanate plans to increase the contribution of tourism in the gross domestic product by 8 to 12 times,” said H.E. Al Mahrizi.
Massimo Tocchetti, Oman’s tourism office representative for Italy, said Italy is the third largest European market for Oman, after Germany and the United Kingdom. The Sultanate's popularity in the Italian market is clearly reflected in the growth in tourist arrivals in recent years. “Tourism sector in the Sultanate continues to record strong growth. Last year, international tourist arrivals grew by 13.1 percent, while the inflow of tourists from Italy surged by 35.3 percent. The positive trend continues and is accelerated in 2018. In the first half of the current year, Oman welcomed 837,821 international tourists, 27 percent more than the same period of last year,” added Tocchetti. ”The growth rate is 100 percent from the Italian market, with 45,064 (Italian) visitors chose Oman as a destination.”
The growth was attributed to a multi-level strategy aimed at promoting the destination to individual leisure customers and to medium/high profile groups, who are interested in cultural tourism.
Further, the surge in tourist inflow was due to attractions in Salalah destination, supported by major tour operators such as Alpitour, Eden Viaggi, Turisanda and Veratour.
The Sultanate’s national carrier Oman Air will increase direct weekly flights between Milan and Muscat to 11 from December 14. Emirates serves Muscat with three daily flights from Dubai, while Etihad Airways flies twice a day fromRome and once from Milan and can reach Muscat via Abu Dhabi. Qatar Airways has eleven daily frequencies between Doha and Muscat, and two daily frequencies between Doha and Salalah.
A many as 18 companies, including airlines such Emirates, Etihad Airways, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, will attend the tourism workshop. Other participants include ten tour operator - Afaq Travel & Tourism, Arabia Expert, Arabica Orient Tours, Arabian Experience, Bahwan Tourism, Khimiji House of Travel, Magic Arabia, National Travel and Tourism, Sharaf Tours and Travel Point. Besides, three major hotels - Al Bustan Palace - Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Shangri-La Al Husn Resort & spa and Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa and The Chedi Muscat – will also attend the workshop.
According to the long-term economic strategy of Vision Oman 2040, the investments in tourism sector will help to position Oman among the main leisure and business destinations in the Gulf and will attract 5 million international tourists by 2040.
"We estimate the contribution of tourism to GDP between 2 percent and 5 percent by 2020, between 4.8 percent and 7.3 percent by 2030 and between 5.9 percent and 10.4 percent by 2040. Our long-term strategy is based on a "cluster" approach aimed at creating unique experiences in 14 areas of Oman around the capital Muscat, the Musandam peninsula, the Hajar massif, the Frankincense route, the Indian Ocean coast, the desert, the Forts route and the archaeological sites,” added HE Al Mahrizi.
The Sultanate aims to develop a model of sustainable tourism that highlights the wealth of the country in terms of natural scenarios and preservation of local heritage, noted Salim Aday Al Mamari, Director General of the Tourist Office.