Oman to host events on large scale in future

Muscat: In the coming years, one can expect the Sultanate of Oman to host events on a large scale, similar to what is seen in other countries, said a senior official of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.

Speaking to the Observer, Khalid al Zadjali, director of Oman Convention Bureau, said, "There is no specific timeline, but we certainly have such plans and are working on meetings and conferences that can bring thousands of people to the country. We have nice airports, hotels and road infrastructure, among other things."

Speaking about the Arabian Travel Market, he said it is one of the top three events worldwide and provides an important platform and opportunities to meet our counterparts from various source markets. We are also focusing on promoting Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) in the Sultanate of Oman. We see growth in the MICE market and are working with hoteliers, agents and those who come for these events."

There has been a growth of around 7 to 8 per cent in the MICE market. "We also support and promote Salalah as a second destination after Muscat. Salalah is the only city in the Gulf area that can be visited year-round," he said. Some events were conducted last year in September, which could also be held in October.

Regarding offering connectivity to visitors, he said Oman Air has been covering major cities such as India, one of the strong source markets, as well as flying to the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Russia and now Amsterdam." Al Jabal Al Akhdhar has iconic selling points for the MICE market and there are some packages available as incentives. It is a unique destination and different from beach properties. Oman is also targeting more than 140 countries that participate in these events.