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Oman O


man’s Ministry of Tourism’s current marketing campaign is ‘Beauty has


an address – Oman’. Few people who have visited the Sultanate would argue, as Oman offers a truly unspoilt aspect of Arabia, topped off with modern services and facilities that international visitors would expect. The Ministry of Tourism’s


vision is to develop a sustainable tourism sector that ‘reflects the Sultanate’s historic, cultural and natural heritage’ and that ideal seems to have become a reality.


OMAN — INDIA | DESTINATION


than Italy, yet has five percent of its population. This means the Sultanate has vast areas of natural beauty waiting to be discovered. Oman boasts soaring mountains


This year has started brightly


for Oman, which is celebrating Muscat’s role as the Arab Tourism Capital 2012. A full programme of events has been established, which began with the Muscat Festival in January. In fact, the Ministry of Tourism is


expecting 2012 to be a landmark year for the sultanate in terms of visitor numbers, forecasting a 35 percent rise over 2011. In 2010, 1.6 million tourists visited Oman. Covering an area of 310,000


square kilometres and home to just 3.3 million, Oman is larger


and some of the world’s most spectacular caves, white sand beaches that are home to nesting turtles and lush, fertile valleys (or wadis). The city of Salalah, famous for its frankincense, has its own microclimate fuelled by the khareef monsoons. Man-made sights include


ancient traditional forts that can be found dotted around the country and modern monuments to culture and the arts, such as the recently opened Muscat Opera House. Everywhere you look you can find harmony between the past and the present. Oman Tourism believes that the country’s natural attractions, coupled with a wide range of international hotels and improving infrastructure positions it to offer its traditional and warm hospitality to the world. Tourism is indeed booming in Oman. Cruise liners have added Muscat to their itineraries, major


airport improvements are coming online and luxurious resorts are increasing their presence. Luxury resorts like the Al


Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Muscat and Shangri- La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa offer excellent facilities for the five-star visitor. In the capital, the Grand Hyatt Muscat and other international brands have established properties, while the boutique Chedi Muscat offers something more bespoke. “Oman as a destination has tremendous untapped potential


Khasab, northernmost Oman


Oman at Arabian Travel Market Oman Ministry of Tourism ME1510


India Taj Mahal Luxury resorts like the Al Bustan


Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Muscat and Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah


Resort & Spa offer excellent facilities for the five-star visitor


Yet these impressive figures were met with a degree of disappointment in India, where double-digit growth had been predicted, as in the previous year. Such has been the meteoric rise of the country that expectations are still running high, despite the global downturn. According to market


research analyst Euromonitor, the introduction of extended Visa on Arrival (VoA) facilities helped to attract more tourists. First introduced in 2010 for five countries, six more were added in 2011, mainly covering Southeast Asian nations. Euromonitor noted that


A


s the world’s largest democracy, a vast land of contrasting landscapes,


sprawling mega-cities and one of the most important international economies, India is on the rise. It offers a kaleidoscope of landscapes, important historical sites, golden beaches, misty mountains, rich


cultures and colourful festivals. It is becoming increasingly popular as a destination for international leisure travellers, as well as proving to be a leading source market for destinations in the Middle East. Last year, tourism arrivals


grew 8.9 percent to 6.3 million, up from 5.8 million in 2010.


India at Arabian Travel Market India Tourism AS2330


the Indian government was promoting the country within a wider number of trade shows (including in Cambodia and Vietnam – two countries that benefit from the VoA scheme). Additionally, India represented


one of the fastest-growing markets for outbound travel in 2011, fuelled by a surge in per-capita income and a rising middle class. This growth is expected to continue in double digits over coming years and is already proving excellent news for nearby destinations in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi was one destination


that benefited significantly from the increase in the number of Indian visitors in 2011. Indian


Kerala


arrivals to the emirate rose 30 percent to 108,170, making it Abu Dhabi’s second largest source market. India was only outperformed by the UK. In neighbouring Dubai, more


than 700,000 Indian visitors made it the second highest tourism source market for the


and it is our national responsibility to promote our country to a wider international audience,” said Abdul Wahid al Farsi, Vice President, External Affairs of Omran and a member of the Organising Committee of Muscat Arab Tourism Capital 2012. Omran is the leading tourism-


related investment‚ development and management company in Oman, behind many of the country’s tourism assets and projects. The Omran portfolio includes luxury hotels and resorts‚ a world-class sports venue‚ business destinations and large joint-venture developments. “Omran plays an instrumental


role in Oman’s long-term vision for its tourism sector working with the government to set a benchmark that mirrors the Sultanate’s unique destination positioning,” added al Farsi.


Nesting turtle, Ras Al Jinz


Oman Fact File


Oman is the second largest country in the Arabian Peninsula, with the UAE dividing a small section in the northernmost tip from the rest of the country. Oman's east coast is fringed by the Arabian Sea and its land neighbours include Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.


Population: 3.3 million Climate: Northern Oman suffers from very little annual rainfall and high temperatures peaking around 48°C in the summer months. By contrast the southern region is cooled by the monsoon in summer, with temperatures ranging from 22°C to 34°C. Winter temperatures across the country range from 18°C to 26°C. Local Time: GMT +4 Currency: Omani Riyal OR1 = US$2.53 Language: Arabic is the official language, while English is widely understood. Cultural considerations: Islam is the official religion of Oman, although other religions are tolerated and practised. Oman is a relatively liberal country by Gulf standards. Getting there: Oman Air serves all major Gulf destinations as well as Europe and Asia.


region – ahead of the UK, but behind a surging Saudi Arabia. In terms of inbound tourism


to India, the numbers are already looking good for 2012. Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) for February 2012 grew 6.6 percent year on year to 677,000. For January and


In terms of inbound tourism to India, the numbers are already looking


good for 2012. Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) for February 2012 grew 6.6 percent year on year to 677,000


February combined, FTAs grew 7.9 percent to 1.36 million. Prime Minister Manmohan


Singh admitted in March that difficult decisions were needed to return the economy’s annual growth to the nine percent it enjoyed prior to 2008. "We grew at nine percent for five years before 2008 and I do believe we can get back to that kind of growth rate," he said.


India Fact File


India is the world's seventh largest country by geography, but second largest by population. An emerging economic superpower, the country's annual GDP tops US$4 trillion.


Population: 1.2 billion Climate: India boasts one of the most varied climates in Asia. It hosts six major climate subtypes with weather conditions varying accordingly. The north suffers from freezing temperatures in the winter, while the south is particularly affected by the monsoon season. Local Time: GMT +5.5 Currency: Indian Rupee US$1 = INR44.50 Language: Hindi and English are the two main languages. Getting there: Air India is the flag carrier and flies to 26 cities in Asia, Europe and North America.


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