FEATURE OMAN
Tourism Update
ALISON CRYER Director, UK & Ireland, Oman Ministry of
KUONI - 01306 747008
www.kuoni.co.uk Four nights at the five-star Al Bandar, at Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, on a B&B basis, lead in at £959pp. Accommodation is In a superior room and the deal includes flights with British Airways from Heathrow and transfers. For departures on August 15-16.
Room Report New hotels have recently added 1500 rooms to Oman’s capacity. The City Seasons Hotel in Muscat has 269 new rooms and the Millennium Resort Mussanah has a marina, five swimming pools and MICE facilities. New boutique hotels include the Juweira at Salalah Beach, the Sahab Hotel, the View at the Al Jebel Al Akhdar, and the Sifawy Boutique Hotel at Jebel Sifah. Coming Soon: September 2013: The Khasab Hotel in the Musandam Peninsula of northern Oman will be a three-star hotel with 110 rooms. A range of leisure options including a dive centre with boat dock. Late 2014: Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts will open a 391-room resort and spa hotel in Salalah, in the
southern province of Dhofar, in late 2014.
26 July/August 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
Who Flies There Oman is about eight hours flying time from the UK. Oman Air is the national carrier and has non-stop direct flights (
www.omanair.com). Other carriers include:
BRITISH AIRWAYS:
www.batraveltrade.com ETIHAD:
www.etihadairways.com EMIRATES:
www.emirates.com GULF AIR:
www.gulfair.com QATAR AIRWAYS:
www.qatarairways.com
Tourism Representative Office A relative newcomer on the travel scene Oman is now firmly on UK travellers’ radar with a 7% increase in visitors in 2010 and 2011 making it one of the Gulf’s most successful destinations reaching 173,000 British visitors a year. This increase is set to continue with the country’s most recent developments including: Muscat becoming Arab Tourism Capital 2012 and thus encouraging yet more UK visitors to discover the country’s fascinating capital, lower visa costs (£9) for stays of up to 10 days and marketing initiatives such as the joint stopover campaign with Oman Air to further increase visitor numbers to the country. There’s been a boost in new attractions including the opening of the brand new Royal Opera House, two 18-hole top golf courses and Oman Sail Charters and sailing schools. New hotels include the reopened and refurbished Ritz Carlton Al-Bustan, and Oman’s first boutique hotels Sifawy hotel at Jebel Sifah, the Sahab Hotel and The View in the Jebel Al Akhdar mountains. The Sultanate of Oman is also
From top: Sell Oman for its deserted beaches, its archaeological treasures like Bebe Mariam Tomb, and its vibrant and colourful culture
planning to unveil the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre in 2015 targeting the conference and incentive market as well as a new National Museum. From cultural to outdoor pursuits including hiking, biking, diving and birdwatching, the Sultanate of Oman has got something for everyone. Agents and tour operators can find out more and become Oman Ambassadors at www.
omanacademy.com which is a great resource for any member of the UK travel industry. We look forward to welcoming you to Oman.
Selling Tip Oman is the perfect place to sell for clients seeking to experience a ‘real’ Gulf state.
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