Mubasher: The Omani National Centre for Statistics and Information remarked that 597,009 visitors from the GCC were registered between January and June 2019, among other 1.7 million tourists who flew to the Sultanate during the same period.
This number of tourists has been witnessed thanks to the Omani Ministry of Tourism’s success in raising awareness on the country as a unique touristic destination, according to a recent press release.
The list of the other five leading source markets that visited Oman included “204,848 travellers from India, 102,325 visitors from Germany, 88,787 visitors from the UK and 47,393 from China.” A 25.8% overall increase was seen in inbound visitors in June 2019 compared to June 2018.
In June, 119,000 visitors from the Gulf region flew to Oman’s top tourist attractions, recording a 46% year-on-year growth. In this regard, the tourism ministry is diligently working on a variety of segments, including adventure tourism, cultural tourism, family tourism, as well as business and corporate tourism.
Additionally, the ministry is attempting to increase the number of direct flights to and from Oman, while further diversifying comprehensive tour packages to include leisure, travel as well as (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions tourism) MICE segments.
Oman welcomed 189,000 cruise ship visitors in 6 months
Similar to the spike of tourist numbers visiting Oman, the country’s ports welcomed 298 cruise ships during 2018-2019 when compared to 192 during 2017-2018, with a 3.6% year-on-year rise.
Meanwhile, 147 cruise ships have arrived at Port Sultan Qaboos, followed by 72 at Khasab Port, and 79 at Port of Salalah.
Between January-June 2019, a number of 189,000 cruise ship visitors arrived in Oman, including 68,980 Germans, 21,949 from the UK, 16,277 Italian tourists, 10,342 Spaniards and 8,301 Americans.
Meanwhile, around 91.1% of the visitors in June were from Oceania countries, with Australians making up for 72.6% of the total number.
The ministry’s director general of the tourism promotions department Salem Adi Al Mamari stated, “In line with the Oman Tourism Strategy to welcome 11 million tourists by 2040, the ministry also conducted a series of initiatives, which we believe have contributed to this overwhelming response from GCC visitors.”
