Oman wins 9 World travel awards
Muscat – Winners of the 29th World Travel Awards (WTA) were announced on Friday in a gala hosted by the sultanate at Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-carlton Hotel.
Oman won nine out of 69 major international awards presented at the event, held under the patronage of H E Salim bin Mohammed al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism.
The largest event in the world of travel and tourism, it was attended by more than 500 representatives from the global airlines and hospitality sectors. Awards were presented to winners from 50 participating countries.
Oman was crowned with the award for the Best Tourist Destination for Nature Lovers, which sees it top the list of preferred tourist destinations for the new year 2023, while Muscat International Airport shone at the ceremony after winning the award for Best International Airport in Customer Experience. Salalah Airport was crowned the World's Leading Regional Airport.
In a three-award haul, Oman Air won World’s Leading Airline - Business Class, World’s Leading Airline - Customer Experience, and World’s Leading Airline Lounge - Business Class categories.
The award for World’s Leading Palace Hotel went to Al Bustan Palace, while Jumeirah Muscat Bay and The Chedi won the World’s Leading New Resort and World’s Leading Beach Resort and Spa categories respectively.
Commenting on Oman Airports hosting the WTA for the second time, Sheikh Aimen bin Ahmed al Hosni, CEO of Oman Airports, said, “The travel and tourism industry is one of the most prominent economic sectors in which countries from around the world compete, with the Middle East being one of its most promising markets today. As a result, Oman Vision 2040 has identified this industry as one of the most important sectors that must be focused on in the coming years. As an enabling factor for the tourism industry, our initiative to host the world's largest travel and tourism event aims to enhance Oman's presence on the map of the most prominent tourist destinations.”
With more than 500 representatives of leading international travel and tourism companies attending, “it was an incredible opportunity for their counterparts and those working in the field in Oman to consolidate relations and build trade partnerships and to enhance their performance and increase the number of tourists visiting the sultanate”.
“The global TV5 network that covered the ceremony directly on its channels, is a great added value to the sultanate's efforts in promoting tourism,” Sheikh Hosni added.
On the occasion, Graham Cooke, Founder and President of the awards, said, “With a number
of Omani companies winning awards in different categories, I am confident that the sultanate is leading the way towards enhanc
ing the performance of its travel and tourism sectors to become one of the most important sources of its economic income.
With a leading network of airports under the pioneering management of a top company like Oman Airports, the sultanate will
definitely see its tourism industry flourish.”