More than 3 million tourists from all over the globe visit Oman every year. The government wants to attract far more visitors to the nation. It has recently executed a definitive strategy in this direction with the goal of bringing up the tourism and leisure sector in a major way.
Oman’s Tourism Drive
Five Integrated Tourism Complexes (ITCs) are in the pipeline for Oman and are expected to provide a solid foundation to the Sultanate’s tourism offering. This is aimed at serving as a catalyst in amplifying the number of visitors that the nation sees. So far, Oman has been lagging behind when it comes to competing with the other nations in the Middle East. The Government has decided to bring a change to this and increase the tourists’ count by five times the current level by 2040.
Increase in Hotels
According to statistics, the current number of hotels in Oman are over 352, out of which 81 were opened in the last year. To cater to an increasing number of tourists, this capacity would have to be further increased to match the tourism growth levels. By 2020, it is expected that Oman will see five million tourists every year. So the Sultanate is busy preparing for this boost by increasing their leisure accommodations, including boutique hotels and lodgings.
Diversifying for International Tourists
So far, the majority of visitors coming to Oman have been from the GCC countries, followed by the Far East and Europe. But with a clear tourism strategy in effect, the nation is bound to see more international tourists from different countries. The need of the hour is then to cater to such multi-national tourists by establishing accommodation specific to their needs. The facilities offered, the proximities to the local attractions, the locations, all such key aspects will play a decisive role for operators looking for company formation in Oman. By 2040, it is estimated that this boost in tourism would create more than half a million job opportunities and the GDP would reach to 6 to 10 per cent during the next 25 years.
Cluster Destinations
The Government intends to create and showcase a range of cluster destinations that can lure the tourists for a longer stay. Increase in the number of hotels will not serve the purpose if there are not many attractions to visit in and around Oman. So the government is looking to capitalise on the natural and cultural resources in the 14 locations across Oman. This can ensure a wider variety of experiences for the visitors and encourage longer vacations.
Training Institutes
The Government intends to collaborate with existing colleges and educational centres so it can offer training courses to those who plan to work in the tourism sector. As part of the Oman tourism strategy, every individual who wishes to become a part of the tourism industry would be subjected to formal training programs as well as on-the-job training.
Business in Oman
The estimated cost of this recently implemented strategy by the government of Oman has come close to 35 billion US dollars. This cost covers the improvement of the existing infrastructure as well as creating cluster destinations across the nation.
The current model of conducting business in Oman works through contractual agreements with the landowners. The operators can earn their licenses and operate on the land. All the compliances with regards to labour, taxation and environmental laws come under the responsibility of the landowners. Additionally, the government has also eased the attainability of commercial registration license and tourism license for operators looking to incorporate a company through such landowners.
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