Muscat: The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism issued updated Executive Regulations of the Tourism Law, which aim to support the growth of the tourism sector in Oman, in line with Oman Vision 2040.
The new regulations give all existing tourism operators a six-month period to regularise their status, while the previous rules issued in 2021 have been cancelled.
A key feature of the regulations is the establishment of a central registry for all tourism activities, ensuring better organisation and monitoring of the sector. The Ministry also confirmed that no tourism or hospitality activity can be operated without an official license.
The updated system covers a wide range of activities, including hotels, travel agencies, tour guiding, adventure tourism, and business tourism.
It also sets a 60-day timeframe for reviewing licence applications, with applications considered approved if no response is issued within that period.
The regulations introduce structured tourism fees and service charges, along with clearer procedures for licensing, renewal, and compliance.
Hotels and tourism establishments will now require initial approval before construction, must follow approved land-use plans, and will be classified under official categories. They are also required to display their classification and connect electronically with the Ministry to share data and statistics.
Travel agencies will continue to operate under regulated conditions, including mandatory tourist insurance and the use of licensed tour guides only.
Tour guiding has been organised into different categories, while adventure tourism activities will follow updated safety and insurance requirements.
Business tourism has also been formally regulated, with operators required to provide programme data and statistics to support planning and analysis of the sector.
The regulations also include updated guidelines for tourism land use and development, as well as enhanced monitoring and inspection procedures.
The Ministry said the new framework aims to improve service quality, support investment opportunities, and strengthen the contribution of the tourism sector to Oman’s economy.
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