FIVE REASONS WHY HOTELS IN OMAN ARE EXPECTED TO SEE BRIGHTER DAYS

HN spoke to Katrin Herz, general manager of Al Bustan Palace, The RitzCarlton Hotel Company L.L.C, who shared with us five key opportunities that point to better days for hospitality in the country.

1. Our national airline, Oman Air, is actively driving tourism, with the announcement of new routes to potential source markets like Istanbul and Moscow, and an increase in the number of flights to existing source markets, such as Milan and Paris. The relaunch of the Maldives route is a fantastic opportunity for global travelers who were indecisive about their final destination. They now have a chance to combine a trip to Oman with a stopover in the Maldives throughout the year.

2. New visa regulations support this strategy for tourism growth, with a visa upon arrival for Russian, Chinese and Indian travelers among others. The restrictions that were in place until now were a clear obstacle for visitors from these key markets.

3. The new Muscat International Airport provides an enhanced experience for global travelers, with the latest technology and state-of-the-art facilities, and an upgraded level of safety and security.

4. The MICE industry is strengthening in Oman, as reflected by the new Oman Exhibition Center, which is developing and will be hosting a number of significant events in 2019.

5. The Sultanate of Oman has identified the tourism industry as one of the main focus areas to diversify its economy and as a result, the Ministry of Tourism is developing a number of exciting projects to further enhance the travel experience and open new tourism sites to visitors across different regions of the country.