Plans are for Oman Vision 2040
Taking advantage of the characteristics of a more sensible tourist destination, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is formulating new plans to make the Sultanate of Oman a truly exclusive tourist spot.
In the first of the plans, the ministry is building tourist sites in the governorates of Muscat, Al Dakhiliyah, South Al Sharqiyah, Dhofar and Musandam, and then in the rest of the governorates.
According to Salim bin Mohammed al-Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, the plans come with a system of governance, modernizing the legal framework and updating tourism legislation and regulations.
“The plans aim to achieve immediate gains through the implementation of previous projects in line with the existing wishes of the tourism market and are part of the recovery plan after the Covid-19 pandemic that has affected several projects in the sector,” said the Minister.
The plans are part of Oman Vision 2040 to diversify the economy and its dependence on oil. Oman has already attracted RO 1. 7 billion in tourism investments out of the RO 3 billion planned between 2021 and 2023.
The number of projects of tourist complexes incorporated in the country has recently amounted to 21, of which 11 are on public land owned through the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, and agreements have already been signed for the progression of these complexes and 8 usufruct contracts.
Ten projects are on the ground, two of which are ongoing and for 4 of them progress agreements have been signed.
The Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) signed a cooperation agreement with the Office of the Governor of Southern Al Sharqiyah in May to expand a number of tourism projects in other parts of the governorate.
Under the agreement, Omran will provide technical assistance and supervision for the implementation of projects that will be developed in various stages in the governorate’s tourist destinations.
The first phase includes the progression of a park in the Suwayh region, covering a domain of more than 65,000 m². Another park will be developed in Al Ashkharah, of more than 14,000 m².
In cooperation with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Omran is preparing several tourist destinations in Dhofar.
While tourism is slowly recovering with the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions in many countries, the Sultanate of Oman received more than 794,000 visitors between January 1 and May 31 this year.
RECOVERY OF TOURISM
Fitch Solutions, in its latest report, maintained a tourism recovery outlook in Oman in 2022 and 2023, and a more powerful medium-term expansion is expected between 2024 and 2026.
“The underlying expansion momentum over the next few years will be supported by the Vision 2040 strategic economic diversification program and the highly capitalized position of the state’s tourism progression authority, Omran,” the firm said.
In May, the government continues to aggressively implement its recovery strategy, unveiling virtual marketing projects and announcing new sector-specific investments, he said.
According to the May 2022 tourism posters published by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), while 1. 5 million travellers had left Oman by the end of May 2022.
Oman’s hotel revenue continues after an incredibly complicated era in 2020 and 2021. Hotel revenues recorded triple-digit figures with three- to five-star categories generating thirteen million RO in revenue, a large portion of the four million RO generated. time last year.
In terms of visitors and occupancy, more than 140,000 visitors stayed in hotels in May, up from 68,000 in May 2021, an improvement of 105%. Meanwhile, occupancy rates averaged between 42. 8% and 24% in May 2021.
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