Free multiple entry visa for World Cup fans
Published: 05:09 PM,Sep 07,2022 | EDITED : 12:09 AM,Sep 08,2022
In a step to support efforts by the State of Qatar to host the Fifa World Cup 2022, the Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, has announced several special programmes.
With Muscat as one of the major and approved cities to receive World Cup fans, the details were unveiled at a press conference held on Wednesday.
Azzan bin Qasim al Busaidy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and Head of the Steering Committee for the management of the programme, affirmed that Oman supports the efforts of the State of Qatar in hosting the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 through several areas of cooperation.
Al Busaidy added that the objective of the programme focuses on promoting Muscat as a major city chosen to receive World Cup fans and to provide an easily accessible and exceptional experience for the fans visiting Oman.
Speaking to the Observer, the Undersecretary said, 'The World Cup is organised for the first time in the region and Oman seeks to benefit from fans who prefer to stay in the country during that period. We discussed visas, shuttle flights, and briefly the fan zones, which will be set up at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC).'
He added, 'While big companies will be able to provide facilities, we also want SMEs to take part, be active and take advantage of the opportunities available.'
HOTEL PACKAGES
As for hotel rooms, different categories of tourists will have a variety of hotels to choose from various packages, which will be provided by a number of tour operators.
It was revealed at the press conference that visitors holding the Hayya card of the Qatar government could apply for a visa online or on arrival at land or airports.
Specific gates will be allocated for World Cup flights at Muscat International Airport, apart from a dedicated terminal for buses ferrying football fans.
The ministry officials said that a Fifa village (Fan Zone) would be established at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, and the details are to be revealed soon.
The press conference was attended by a joint working team chaired by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, which includes several governmental bodies, especially the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Royal Oman Police, and the companies under the Oman Investment Authority - Omran, Oman Air and Oman Airports.
The press conference was chaired by Al Busaidy with the official delegation from Qatar - Al Fadel Khaled al Mawlawi, Deputy Director-General of Tourism, and Fadel Saeed Quarry, CEO of Hayya platform (the official platform for registering the Qatar World Cup fans' Hayya card).
Al Mawlawi said that the official acceptance of the Hayya card for entry to Oman is a great achievement to achieve our main goal, as this World Cup is for all Arab countries.
MULTI-ENTRY VISA
Lt Col Ahmed bin Said al Ghafri, Director of Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Directorate-General of Passports and Civil Status at the Royal Oman Police (ROP), said that the exceptional advantages of Hayya card holders are represented in a free multi-entry visa, with the feature of obtaining the visa on arrival and a validity period of up to 60 days.
Lt Col Al Ghafri said that the visa holder can bring first-degree relatives to enjoy a stay in the Sultanate of Oman and can change the visa category while staying in Oman (conditions apply).
Dr Khalid bin Abdulwahab al Balushi, Senior Manager of Government Affairs at Oman Air, said that the fares for booking one-day flights start from RO 99 for economy class and RO 305 for business class, during the World Cup matches period from November 20 to December 3.
He added that to encourage citizens, special fares have been provided for them, starting from RO 49 for economy class and RO 155 for business class.
Shabib bin Mohammed al Ma’amari, Managing Director of the National Travel Operator representing Omran Group, pointed out that tourism products offered within the programme exceed 20,000 hotel rooms and more than 200 tourism products through 35 local operators and 10 land transport companies. Those companies struck partnerships with 52 airlines from around the world, which operate flights to the Sultanate of Oman.
He said that the programme will include events and activities, most notably the World Cup Fans Festival, which will be held in the gardens of Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre on an area of more than 9,000 square metres. This event aims to provide a festive atmosphere for the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022. An official site for Fan Village will be launched.
Mohammed bin Ahmed al Amri, Director-General of Sports Activities at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, said that continuous coordination is maintained by Oman Football Association (OFA) to host international teams in the Sultanate of Oman. He said that sports facilities in Oman are ready to host the training of those teams.
Meanwhile, Saud bin Nasser al Hubaishi, Acting Chief of Operations, highlighted Muscat International Airport’s preparation plan to ensure a smooth flow of fans at the airport. The preparations include special routes for inbound and outbound flights through gates designated for aircraft carrying fans, outlets dedicated to verifying fans, identification devices for customs inspection and an integrated crew of the customer service team to guide travellers through the designated routes.
Khaled al Mawlawi, Deputy Director-General for Marketing, Communications and Event Experience at Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, said that Qatar has been keen to cooperate and form broad global and regional partnerships for the World Cup, including the fan-hosting cities programme, which includes Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman.
Al Mawlawi stressed that the Sultanate of Oman's programme to support the State of Qatar in hosting the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 has been beyond expectations.
Moreover, Said al Kuwari, Executive Director of the Hayya platform in the State of Qatar, gave a presentation on the official platform tasked with managing the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 cards and the facilities it provides to the fans according to organised and easily accessible mechanisms for all.
The Sultanate of Oman’s programme for the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 seeks to provide an exceptional experience for the spectators who would like to visit Oman through the visa issued for Hayya card holders. Those fans will enjoy a set of packages including competitive flight offers and transport services. The programme is run by a joint team under the purview of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.
The team includes various government and private units, namely the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Royal Oman Police, Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran), Oman Air and Oman Airports. The programme provides accommodation services and tourism experiences in the form of accommodation offers, tourism products, experiences and tours. These services will be rendered by tourism management companies and SMEs.
It also includes a festival and events for the fans, activities to attract visitors, offers and incentives for business partners and package options at competitive prices. The joint programme also includes exceptional promotional campaigns, coinciding with the World Cup 2022, through the implementation of two plans for marketing and promoting for the unique tourism features enjoyed by the Sultanate of Oman. (With ONA inputs)
@vinot_nair
With Muscat as one of the major and approved cities to receive World Cup fans, the details were unveiled at a press conference held on Wednesday.
Azzan bin Qasim al Busaidy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and Head of the Steering Committee for the management of the programme, affirmed that Oman supports the efforts of the State of Qatar in hosting the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 through several areas of cooperation.
Al Busaidy added that the objective of the programme focuses on promoting Muscat as a major city chosen to receive World Cup fans and to provide an easily accessible and exceptional experience for the fans visiting Oman.
Speaking to the Observer, the Undersecretary said, 'The World Cup is organised for the first time in the region and Oman seeks to benefit from fans who prefer to stay in the country during that period. We discussed visas, shuttle flights, and briefly the fan zones, which will be set up at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC).'
He added, 'While big companies will be able to provide facilities, we also want SMEs to take part, be active and take advantage of the opportunities available.'
HOTEL PACKAGES
As for hotel rooms, different categories of tourists will have a variety of hotels to choose from various packages, which will be provided by a number of tour operators.
It was revealed at the press conference that visitors holding the Hayya card of the Qatar government could apply for a visa online or on arrival at land or airports.
Specific gates will be allocated for World Cup flights at Muscat International Airport, apart from a dedicated terminal for buses ferrying football fans.
The ministry officials said that a Fifa village (Fan Zone) would be established at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, and the details are to be revealed soon.
The press conference was attended by a joint working team chaired by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, which includes several governmental bodies, especially the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Royal Oman Police, and the companies under the Oman Investment Authority - Omran, Oman Air and Oman Airports.
The press conference was chaired by Al Busaidy with the official delegation from Qatar - Al Fadel Khaled al Mawlawi, Deputy Director-General of Tourism, and Fadel Saeed Quarry, CEO of Hayya platform (the official platform for registering the Qatar World Cup fans' Hayya card).
Al Mawlawi said that the official acceptance of the Hayya card for entry to Oman is a great achievement to achieve our main goal, as this World Cup is for all Arab countries.
MULTI-ENTRY VISA
Lt Col Ahmed bin Said al Ghafri, Director of Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Directorate-General of Passports and Civil Status at the Royal Oman Police (ROP), said that the exceptional advantages of Hayya card holders are represented in a free multi-entry visa, with the feature of obtaining the visa on arrival and a validity period of up to 60 days.
Lt Col Al Ghafri said that the visa holder can bring first-degree relatives to enjoy a stay in the Sultanate of Oman and can change the visa category while staying in Oman (conditions apply).
Dr Khalid bin Abdulwahab al Balushi, Senior Manager of Government Affairs at Oman Air, said that the fares for booking one-day flights start from RO 99 for economy class and RO 305 for business class, during the World Cup matches period from November 20 to December 3.
He added that to encourage citizens, special fares have been provided for them, starting from RO 49 for economy class and RO 155 for business class.
Shabib bin Mohammed al Ma’amari, Managing Director of the National Travel Operator representing Omran Group, pointed out that tourism products offered within the programme exceed 20,000 hotel rooms and more than 200 tourism products through 35 local operators and 10 land transport companies. Those companies struck partnerships with 52 airlines from around the world, which operate flights to the Sultanate of Oman.
He said that the programme will include events and activities, most notably the World Cup Fans Festival, which will be held in the gardens of Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre on an area of more than 9,000 square metres. This event aims to provide a festive atmosphere for the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022. An official site for Fan Village will be launched.
Mohammed bin Ahmed al Amri, Director-General of Sports Activities at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, said that continuous coordination is maintained by Oman Football Association (OFA) to host international teams in the Sultanate of Oman. He said that sports facilities in Oman are ready to host the training of those teams.
Meanwhile, Saud bin Nasser al Hubaishi, Acting Chief of Operations, highlighted Muscat International Airport’s preparation plan to ensure a smooth flow of fans at the airport. The preparations include special routes for inbound and outbound flights through gates designated for aircraft carrying fans, outlets dedicated to verifying fans, identification devices for customs inspection and an integrated crew of the customer service team to guide travellers through the designated routes.
Khaled al Mawlawi, Deputy Director-General for Marketing, Communications and Event Experience at Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, said that Qatar has been keen to cooperate and form broad global and regional partnerships for the World Cup, including the fan-hosting cities programme, which includes Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman.
Al Mawlawi stressed that the Sultanate of Oman's programme to support the State of Qatar in hosting the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 has been beyond expectations.
Moreover, Said al Kuwari, Executive Director of the Hayya platform in the State of Qatar, gave a presentation on the official platform tasked with managing the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 cards and the facilities it provides to the fans according to organised and easily accessible mechanisms for all.
The Sultanate of Oman’s programme for the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 seeks to provide an exceptional experience for the spectators who would like to visit Oman through the visa issued for Hayya card holders. Those fans will enjoy a set of packages including competitive flight offers and transport services. The programme is run by a joint team under the purview of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.
The team includes various government and private units, namely the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Royal Oman Police, Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran), Oman Air and Oman Airports. The programme provides accommodation services and tourism experiences in the form of accommodation offers, tourism products, experiences and tours. These services will be rendered by tourism management companies and SMEs.
It also includes a festival and events for the fans, activities to attract visitors, offers and incentives for business partners and package options at competitive prices. The joint programme also includes exceptional promotional campaigns, coinciding with the World Cup 2022, through the implementation of two plans for marketing and promoting for the unique tourism features enjoyed by the Sultanate of Oman. (With ONA inputs)
@vinot_nair