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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

75pc Omanis travel abroad for vacation

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Gulf nationals formed a mammoth 69.1 per cent of the total number of visitors to the Sultanate in July this year. This was followed by Indian, British and Pakistani nationalities who stood at second, third and fourth positions with 7.6 per cent, 2.7 per cent and 2.6 per cent, respectively, during the period. However, data from the National Statistics and Information Centre shows the total number of visitors witnessed a 7 per cent fall in July at 278,000 from 298,000 in the corresponding month of 2016. In contrast, outbound tourism jumped 37.4 per cent with 569,268 people visiting other countries in July this year compared with 285,292 in the same month last year.


Of this, Omanis formed a massive 75.1 per cent of the total number of outbound visitors. Statistics reveal Oman’s outbound tourism has been growing at an average annual rate of above 43 per cent. According to experts in the tours and travel sector, most outbound visits were mainly for treatment. School vacations also added significantly to the increase in the number. “Most Omani employees and expatriates take leave in the summer months to escape the scorching heat. This is also aided by school vacations,” said Joseph Rodriguez, a travel expert.


“Also the recent ease in visa processing procedures by some governments to earn more revenue is paving the way for more people to travel to foreign destinations,” he says.


At the same time, the Sultanate is targeting five million international visitors by 2040 compared with the current 1.5 million.


According to Travel News Digest, after a report published by United Nations World Tourism Organisation, the Sultanate is increasing its tourism pitch in countries such as China, Japan, and Korea as it tries to cash in on the booming Asian outbound tourism market.


“We have found that there is a huge tourism potential from China, Japan and Korea. We are studying these markets at this stage and will soon have a strategy to tap tourists from these countries,” the Digest quoted Maitha bint Saif al Mahrouqi, Under-Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, as saying.


She also stated that Oman is also keeping US on their list and they are working closely with national carrier Oman Air.


“These are big markets, we have to do it gradually, and we need to have a connection with the aviation sector in terms of how tourists can get here. Oman has a lot to offer in terms of culture and heritage. These are our focus areas,” Maitha added.


Tourism is expected to generate over 6 per cent of the Sultanate’s annual GDP and provide jobs to 500,000 people with a lion’s share of 75 per cent reserved for Omanis.


The government is looking to turn the Sultanate into a model of sustainable tourism for the entire Gulf region.


They are also targeting foreign investors, particularly from the Middle East, the UK and the USA.


SAMUEL KUTTY


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