Tourism: Taking Oman To The Next Level

The Sultanate of Oman possesses a number of the key characteristics of a premier tourist destination - a diverse environment, unspoiled beaches, breath-taking mountains and a wealth of historical sites (including a number with UNESCO World Heritage status) - all of which help to make the country a truly unique location in the Middle East.

The National Program for Enhancing Economic Diversification (Tanfeedh) is implementing steps aimed at further enhancing Oman's status as a go-to tourism destination. The Tanfeedh programme was established in early 2016 with the primary aim of increasing economic diversification and reducing the Sultanate's reliance on the volatile oil and gas industry. It identified five sectors as being key in achieving this aim - manufacturing, transportation and logistics, fisheries, mining and last, but not least, the tourism sector. Oman's Ministry of Tourism, through the Tanfeedh programme and other initiatives, has set an ambitious target of attracting more than 5 million international visitors to Oman annually, up from just over 3 million in 2016, while also seeking to raise the tourism sector's contribution to the Sultanate's gross domestic product from 2.8% to 6%.

A vast number of key projects aimed at achieving the country's ambitious goals are in various stages of development across Oman. Oman Tourism Development Company SAOC (Omran) is targeting delivery of a number of new hotels in 2018, including the five-star W Hotel currently being constructed in Muscat, which will provide more than 1,000 additional rooms. Omran is also overseeing Oman's latest flagship master-development - the Madinat al Irfan Urban Centre - which, with the new Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre at its heart, is being billed as the "gateway to Oman". Other developments to note are the ongoing expansion of the Royal Opera House Muscat and the proposed redevelopment of Port Sultan Qaboos, which is likely to benefit the tourist trade in Muttrah, the historical heart of Muscat, hugely.

On the regulatory side, the government has taken the step of adding twenty-five countries to the list of those whose citizens are eligible for non-sponsored tourist e-visas. This means that nationals from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia or Schengen Area can now obtain e-visas in advance of arriving in Oman, thereby helping to address waiting times at immigration. To put this into perspective, previously only Chinese, Indian and...