By Vinod Nair — MUSCAT: March 22 - The country must have provisions for simplified e-visas ready by the time the new Muscat International Airport is operational later this year, said CEOs of two national airlines at a panel discussion on Wednesday.
Speaking at the panel discussion of Oman Tourism Investment Conference, Paul Gegrowich, Oman Air, CEO, said currently there are constraints because the present airport was built initially to cater to only four million passengers a year and now it handles around 12 million passengers.
“Visa procedures should be simplified and we need e-visa services to be introduced in a big way. Despite all efforts to stimulate tourism, we are currently lacking in airport infrastructure and procedures.”
François Bouteiller, CEO, Salam Air, said: “E-visa is the key aspect to attract inbound tourists and there should be some working groups formed to address these aspects. We need to raise and deal with these concerns through a specific deadline. We should not have a beautiful terminal but lag behind in services.”
Stressing that aviation brings direct and indirect employment, experts said that for every 30 travellers, there is one employment. Passengers on the Salalah and Muscat sector have been increasing and growth of traffic form Muscat has been consistent at double digits, it was said.
It was also pointed out that there is enough room for a budget carrier and 34 airlines are operating out of Muscat. The market share for low-cost carriers has been 15 per cent in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Saeed Khamis al Zadjali of Oman Airport Management Committee (OAMC), said: “We are moving to an airport which would be six times bigger than the current one. We will embark on major operations, considering our current growth rate at 15 per cent.”
He the economic growth globally is shifting towards the East and Oman is strategically located to get this slice of the business.
Gautam Hoota of Zahara Tours said that the nature of in-bound tourists has changed over the years and more families and youngsters are visiting Oman.
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