Summer tourism: Long way to go?

@vinot_nair

With last year’s summer season almost washed away, the recovery chart offers some hope now as vaccination drive picks up in the country and elsewhere.

While vaccines have been not foolproof against infections, countries that managed to vaccinate a substantial percentage of the population have succeeded to achieve herd immunity and limit the daily fatalities.

Here in Oman, authorities have repeatedly been advocating that vaccines will be key to economic recovery and restoring normalcy to the lives of the average population.

Oman seeks to vaccinate nearly 30 per cent of the population by the end of July.

“Return of international tourists to Oman looks unlikely before November. But on the positive side, the domestic tourists helped us stay afloat, which was not enough but highly valuable under the circumstances,” said a resort manager based in South Batinah.

“Despite the drop in revenues, the big brands were better positioned due to cross funding from projects in other parts of the world. As you may know, some markets did even in 2020.”

Return of international tourists to Oman looks unlikely before November. But on the positive side, the domestic tourists helped us stay afloat, which was not enough but highly valuable under the circumstances

- A resort manager based in South Batinah

Tourism operators in Salalah who spoke to the Observer hoped that Dhofar Governorate will not be closed this season, which means domestic tourists can take a break from peak summer in Muscat and Suhar.

Despite the hope, both travellers and the travel sector have a long journey ahead to regain the lost ground before covering the new areas.

Two straight years of the shutdown of the tourism sector will hit the tourism and travel so hard that any rebound will be harder and longer, perhaps extending to the next decade.

On the positive side, the European Union, known for beaches and summer holidays, decided to ease restrictions to allow fully vaccinated tourists to avoid tests or quarantines.

From July 1, the EU has launched Covid-19 certificates that will indicate whether the person is vaccinated, has immunity because they were previously infected, or has had a recent negative test.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) also confirmed that Phuket would be the first destination in Thailand to reopen to vaccinated foreign tourists without quarantine requirements from July 1. 2021

“All of us at the Tourism Authority of Thailand share the excitement and anticipation of everyone in Phuket in the preparation to welcome back foreign tourists in the not-too-distant future. From July 1. 2021, vaccinated foreign tourists will be allowed to visit Phuket without quarantine. Hence, the countdown starts now to the reopening of Phuket,” it said in a statement.