A billion dollar tourism boost

Five ITCs are expected to form the core of Oman’s tourism offering to visitors from abroad

MUSCAT: Oman’s spending on tourism facilities should cross one billion dollars soon, according to some of the country’s top leisure development officials.

Omran, the Sultanate’s government body responsible for investing in tourism, has partnered with Egyptian tourism development company Orascom to form Muriya, a joint venture that will spearhead Oman’s tourism development, as the Sultanate looks to become a world-class tourism destination. Some $650 million (OMR250 million) has already been used to fund the venture.

“Oman represents our largest tourism development presence in the world, after Switzerland,” said Samih Sawiris, chairman for Orascom Development Holding. “We have provided about $300 million of the $650 million that has been invested so far, and I think the total spend could cross one billion dollars in the next few years.”

Five Integrated Tourism Complexes (ITCs) have been planned for Oman, and are expected to form the core of the Sultanate’s tourism offering, which will act as a catalyst to boosting the nation as a tourism destination for visitors from across the world.

Jabal Sifah, with its boutique hotels and stunning views of the sea, as well as Hawana Salalah, which features three resorts and Salalah’s first water park, are both locations that have proven to be overwhelmingly popular with tourists.

The Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre was opened to the public last year, and development on the site continues in full swing. In addition, two projects have been approved for the future, in- cluding a luxury tourism offering in Mirbat in the Dhofar region, as well as a City Walk along Muscat’s shoreline.

Despite the extensive tourism developments coming to the Sultanate, demand is still outstripping supply.

“We have 98 per cent occupancy, which is very good, and it is clear that we need to add more rooms, so that will be our priority,” noted Ahmed Dabbous, CEO of Muriya, which marked 10 years of operations when it opened the water park on January 10.

“Relations between Muriya and Oman’s Ministry of Tourism have been very good. We are investors in tourism, and we have come here to invest,” he added

Orascom chairman Samih Sawiris added, “Investment in tourism has lessened the impact of the downturn, and now that it is almost over, tourism is bound to grow in the future.