Tourism drive in Oman to add thousands of hotel rooms

The country’s tourism ministry has set itself a target of drawing more than 2.5 million tourists this year – slightly higher than in 2015.

Oman's tourism ministry has set itself a target of drawing more than 2.5 million tourists this year. Lauren Lancaster / The National

Oman plans to add thousands of hotel rooms by 2018 as it gears up to attract even more tourists with improved infrastructure.

“With the number of new hotels and tourism attractions being developed, we hope to welcome even more this year,” said Salim Al Mamari, the director general of tourism promotion at Oman’s ministry of tourism.

The country’s tourism ministry has set itself a target of drawing more than 2.5 million tourists this year – a number it touched last year. Oman attracted 1 million visitors from the Arabian Gulf region last year.

Within the Arabian Gulf region, the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are its leading source markets.

In 2014, Oman reported 2.1 million tourists. The new airport in Muscat scheduled to open early next year is expected to boost the numbers significantly. The first phase of the new airport will have a capacity to handle 12 million passengers a year, doubling the current capacity.

The tourism ministry also expects to add 10,000 hotel rooms, including those from luxury resorts to budget hotels, by 2018. Currently there are 315 hotels accounting for 16,691 rooms in Oman.

“We are also converting a number of self-contained apartments and farm houses to accommodate tourists, giving them the experience of actually living the Omani way,” Mr Al Mamari said.

Among the hotels in the pipeline are the Integrated Tourism Complex at Saraya Bandar Jissah, W Hotel and Kempinski The Wave in Muscat, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar in Al Dakhiliya and Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara.

“The economic challenges are there throughout the Arabian Gulf region, but Oman is investing heavily in infrastructure,” said Darren Darwin, the general manager of Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar. The property is expected to open in the third quarter.

While leisure travellers are expected to comprise 80 per cent of its guests, corporate clients are expected to drive midweek demand.

A 13,000 square feet National Museum in Muscat is also being planned.

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