40 Destinations The chandelier in the men’s prayer room of
Muscat’s Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque weighs 8.5 tonnes and has 600,000 Swarovski crystals
OMAN Oman Ministry of Tourism / ME2110
Ancient traditions and spectacular scenery make for a compelling tourism proposition in Oman. The sultanate is famed for the diversity of its landscapes, including mountains, fjords, wadis, lagoons, beaches and desert terrain, while its abundant historical charms date back to the first Stone Age settlements. With such variety on offer, tourism is thriving
in the country, with three million people visiting in 2016, according to official data. GCC nation- als numbered almost half of those arrivals with 1.45 million entering the country, followed by 300,000 Indian nationals, 174,000 arrivals from the UK and 137,000 from Germany. Bordering Yemen to the south west, Saudi
Arabia to the west and the United Arab Emir- ates to the north, Oman is on a mission to attract 1.4 million international tourism arrivals by 2019. Bringing in a major boost for the country’s
business tourism industry, the first phase of the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre launched last autumn. Located 10 minutes
from Muscat International Airport, the US$1.5 billion (OMR577 million) development is set to complete its second phase this year – adding a 127,000 square metre shopping mall, five-star JW Marriott property, four-star Crowne Plaza and a business park to complement its 22,000 square metres of multipurpose exhibition space. Oman is also actively expanding its avia-
tion capacity in order to support the tourism boom, with both Muscat and Salalah airports receiving investment. Directly connected to 55 destinations in 27 countries by 33 interna- tional airlines, Muscat International Airport is the perfect port of entry for regional and inter- national visitors. Expansion works at Muscat International Airport will be the biggest ever development project of its kind in the country. New facilities at the airport will include 29 gates capable of handling 12 million passengers annu- ally, with further expansion planned to boost the airport’s annual capacity to 24, 36 and 48 million passengers as required. Once work is completed at Salalah Interna-
With such variety on offer, tourism is thriving in the country with three million people visiting in 2016. GCC nationals numbered almost half of those arrivals
tional Airport, it will be able to handle one million passengers a year, at a new 65,600 square metre terminal building. Combined, both Muscat and Salalah airports
not only support the country’s 2040 Vision to double visitor numbers to five million by 2040, but they underscore its ability to handle large volumes of visitors arriving in the sultanate from across the globe.
Nizwa
Merchant in Muscat’s Souk
Muscat harbour
The Phillipines is organised geographically into three principal island groups – Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao
PHILIPPINES Philippines Department of Tourism / AS2320
Boasting stunning paradise isles, rich land- scapes and plenty of character, the Philippines is a wonderfully eclectic destination. The country is made up of more than 7,600
unspoilt tropical islands dotted around an azure archipelago that is becoming a major tourism draw, while its bustling capital Manila offers a diverse urban experience. It’s one of 16 cities that make up the region of Metro Manila and is home to heritage districts such as Rizal Park, where a wealth of cultural options such as the National Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museum of Anthropology, the National Museum of Natural History and the National Planetarium can be found. Intramuros, Manila’s oldest district, is a great
option for history buffs. Known as The Walled City, it was constructed in 1571 during Spanish colonisation and contains the picturesque San Agustin Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For those seeking a more serene experience
out with the main city, the beautiful island of Boracay has become something of a sunseekers’
hot spot in recent years. It is the place to go for excellent surfing and white sand beaches. Another island which has seen a spike
in tourism arrivals is Cebu, where there are several historical sites dedicated to Portu- guese explorer Ferdinand Magellan who arrived on the island in March 1521. Cebu is also renowned for spectacular diving oppor- tunities and the colourful cultural Sinulog Festival, which is held there every January. Celebrated as the country’s cleanest city,
Puerto Princesa on Palawan island offers a unique experience. Dubbed ‘the city in a forest’, it is home to the amazing Puerto Princesa Subter- ranean River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to the Department of Tourism,
the Philippines welcomed just shy of six million visitors in 2016, which marked an increase of 11.3 percent on the previous year. The increase accounted for a 230 billion peso (AED17 billion) boost for the economy. Breaking down the arrivals figures, Korea was the number one visi- tor market, with more than 1.4 million arrivals, followed by the United States, China and Japan. The nation’s hospitality sector is also thriving,
The Philippines welcomed just shy of six million visitors in 2016, which marked an increase of 11.3 percent on the previous year
with a broad slate of scheduled hotel openings including Grand Hyatt Manila, Boracay Crimson Resort & Spa and Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort this year, as well as Hotel Okura Manila, Shera- ton Manila, Novotel Calatagan Beach Resort and Westin Hotel Manila Bayshore all poised to open their doors in 2018.
Puerto Princesa Palawan
Cebu City Sinulog Festival Business district Makati, Manila
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