Inbound tourism spending surpasses RO 1 bn in 2025

MUSCAT: Oman’s tourism sector recorded strong growth in 2025, supported by increased investment and the implementation of projects by the public and private sectors aimed at diversifying tourism products and experiences and improving the quality of services.
According to the 'Tourism Reality in the Sultanate of Oman' bulletin issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the number of visitors to Oman reached 4 million in 2025, while inbound tourism spending exceeded RO 1 billion.
The average stay of inbound tourists was 6.5 nights, with average spending reaching RO 256 per visitor. The number of hotel guests also rose significantly, exceeding 5 million in 2025, compared with 3.5 million in 2018.
The bulletin reviewed the tourism sector’s recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic and highlighted its growing contribution to economic growth, GDP, employment and economic stability.
The number of establishments operating in tourism-related activities exceeded 24,000 in 2025, representing growth of more than 40 per cent from 2020. Muscat accounted for the largest share at 43.5 per cent, followed by Dhofar at 17.5 per cent and Al Batinah North at 11 per cent.
These establishments employed more than 182,000 people, including about 32,000 Omanis in 2025, up from 28,000 in 2024 and 25,000 in 2023.
The tourism sector’s contribution to GDP at current prices rose to RO 1.135 billion in 2025, an increase of 37.6 per cent from RO 825 million in 2018.
The sector’s direct added value stood at about RO 1.107 billion, with hotels contributing RO 252.1 million, travel agencies and booking services RO 242.7 million, restaurants RO 198.8 million and transport RO 196.5 million.
Investment in tourism-related activities, particularly the hotel sector, has also increased in recent years. The number of hotels reached about 1,475 by the end of 2025, more than 1,000 above the 2018 figure.
Hotel revenues rose to RO 359 million in 2025, compared with RO 259 million in 2018. Revenues had fallen to RO 102 million during the Covid-19 pandemic before recovering to RO 224 million in 2022, RO 276 million in 2023 and RO 293 million in 2024.
Oman Vision 2040 targets increasing tourism’s contribution to GDP to 3.5 per cent by 2030 and 5.3 per cent by 2040. — ONA