‘Friendliness’ is becoming the signature of Omani tourism. This friendliness is a trait, which can be an asset to the tourism industry.
Lakshmi Kothaneth -
lakshmiobserver@gmail.com -
What makes people go out of the way to do something good for a stranger? A good deed not only leaves the recipient with a good feeling, but also leaves a permanent memory. A memory that is to be cherished forever.
There is someone who has been in Oman for more than a decade. There is something about the country that makes him want to stay here.
He was driving to Salalah and just 70 km from the capital of Dhofar Governorate, he had a tyre burst. He was trying to fix the tyre when a BMW sports car rushed past him. After passing a few metres, it slowed down, reversed and halted near his vehicle. Three Omani youths stepped out of the car and helped him change the tyre. All they asked him was where he was staying in Salalah.
The next day, another surprise was in store for him. After fixing the puncture, the trio had the tyre delivered to the hotel where he stayed. And he didn’t have to pay for anything.
This ‘friendliness’ is becoming the signature of Omani tourism. This story is a personal experience of a friend of Thierry Perrot, Area General Manager, InterContinental Hotels Group.
“This was the experience of my friend, who is also in the hospitality industry. But I have heard many other interesting stories. One day a tourist from Britain wanted to visit the Muttrah Souq. The taxi driver and the passenger became such good friends that soon the tourist was having kahwa at the driver’s home,” said an expert on hospitality industry.
It is a bonding you don’t see anywhere else. People in Oman eagerly share their culture and traditions and are ready to be friends,” said Perrot, adding, “It is in their DNA. It is not just the older generation. You can see these qualities in the younger generation as well.”
As Oman looks at tourism as one of the pillars for diversification of the country’s economy, it is interesting to look at its assets. “I have been in the industry for 35 years and have been to many Arab countries, but I have never seen such a rich culture and friendliness. It’s a big plus for Oman.”
Perrot said: “We need reasons for tourists to visit us, patronise Oman and stay in our hotels. There is definitely a reason for visitors to be in Oman because of the richness in culture. We just have to ensure every hotel continues to provide top service. Every tourist looks for value for his money and experience.”
That experience, according to him, is “a moment of memory for the guest, which is a true moment of capturing the essence of Oman and what it has to offer”.
The friendliness is a trait, which can be an asset to the tourism industry. Careers might be just waiting to happen. Hospitality industry is one place where no two days can be similar.
The faces you meet are different every day. Meeting people from other countries can be like travelling to other places. Accents differ, so do mannerisms. Most importantly, it is a profession where the response is almost immediate.
The better the service, higher the urge for tourists to come back and bring their family members and friends.
With the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre appearing on Oman’s tourism map, there is another group of visitors that is arriving: professionals attending special events. Their numbers can go up to thousands, depending on the size of international events. Hospitality industry experts feel they are visitors who would potentially return for holidays.
In other words, each individual in Oman has an opportunity to be the ambassador of tourism because for a visitor, it could be a conversation or an event that could be the essence of Oman they would take back with them. It needs no marketing tool to promote tourism. It is just 100 per cent authentic bonding.
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