66
oman
Meanwhile, the sultanate is in the fast lane
to enhancing its appeal as a destination that offers old Arabia with a modern ambience.
What’s new Airlines: A new terminal is due to be opened at
Muscat International Airport, with the capacity to handle 12 million passengers a year. Subsequent expansion will be in stages to meet demand. Salalah International Airport is also being upgraded and will be capable of handling one million passengers a year. It has been designed to allow for further expansion, with more visitors forecast to include the only region in the Middle
East with an annual monsoon in their itineraries. Hotels: Latest openings include the Alila Jabal Akhdah (
alilahotels.com/jabalakhdar) mountain resort, the fi rst fi ve-star hotel in Dhofar, and the Salalah Rotana Resort (
rotana.com/salahrotanaresort). Due in 2015 are the desert resort Dunes by Al Nahda (
alnahdaresort.com), and in Muscat a Kempinski (
kempinski.com) followed in 2016 by a Fairmont at The Wave (
fairmont.com).
Tourism talk “Visitor fi gures from the UK have increased on average by 10% a year over the past 10 years, reaching 133,259 in 2013. The fi rst
half of 2014 saw the same 10% increase and we anticipate this trend continuing throughout 2015, with expected arrivals totalling 161,500. If air access increases due to airport expansions, however, this would grow exponentially. “With new spa resorts coming on board, the Ministry is looking towards wellness tourism as a new sector for growth. Muscat has seen recent expansion in the MICE market and this is expected to grow even faster with the opening of the new Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre in 2016. We have a busy calendar of events planned for the UK and Ireland in 2015. We will be participating and exhibiting in 16 events, roadshows and exhibitions. The roadshow will be from April 13-16, and our next exhibition is Destinations in London.” Alison Cryer, Director, UK & Ireland, Oman Ministry of Tourism
Where to book it AZURE COLLECTION – 01244 322770
The tailor-made specialist is offering seven nights for the price of fi ve at the Six Senses Zighy Bay Musandam. Costing from £1,830pp, the special offer, valid from May 16 to September 30, 2015 includes British Airways fl ights
and private transfers.
azurecollection.com TRAVEL 2 – 08000 224182 Three nights at the fi ve-star Shangri- La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Muscat, cost from £649pp for departures between mid-May and mid-July. The budget price includes fl ights
from London and transfers.
travel2.com A GOLFING EXPERIENCE – 01923 283339 A fi ve-night golf package, staying at the Crowne Plaza, Muscat, costs from £1,075pp, and includes two rounds at the Almouj course and one at Muscat Hills. The price includes meet and greet at the airport and private
transfers, but not fl ights. agolfi
ngexperience.com KE ADVENTURE TRAVEL – 017687 71706 The 10-day Oman Adventure Trekking package costs from £1,295pp, and explores the dramatic Al Hajar mountains. Accommodation is in tented camps, plus one night at a comfortable hotel in Nizwa. Flights are not included and
clients join the tour in Muscat.
keadventure.com SILVERSEA CRUISES – 0844 251 0837 Silversea’s Silver Wind will depart on April 5, 2015, for a 15-day voyage from Muscat to Piraeus (Greece). En route to a number of Middle East destinations, it will call at Salalah, offering shore excursions in Oman’s second city. Prices start at £3,550pp for a vista suite. Cruise only, no fl ights.
silversea.com
From top: Oman’s desert is home to a rich array of plants and wildlife; in Oman turtles lay their eggs year round; the most popular site for watching is Ras Al Jinz beach; Old Muttrah Souk
WHO FLIES THERE
omanair.com;
batraveltrade.com;
etihad.com; qatarairways. com;
gulfair.com Note: Oman Air offers the only direct fl ights from the UK to Muscat.
“Oman isn’t difficult to sell. Booking clients on a tour is the most logical way to see the country, unless they are confident driving into remote areas.”
JO PAYNE, PRODUCT MANAGER, KE ADVENTURE TRAVEL
sellingtravel.co.uk
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