Oman aims to double number of international visitors

Oman plans to more than double the number of international visitors it attracts over the next two decades as part of a tourism strategy unveiled on Monday.

By 2040, the sultanate aims to attract more than 5 million international visitors in addition to same-day and domestic travellers.

The country also aims to generate 6 per cent of annual gross domestic product from tourism.

Oman’s Ministry of Tourism said the plan would be based on clusters linked to the unique coastal experience of Musandam, the Hajar Mountain,; the Frankincense Trail in Salalah, culture in Muscat and the country’s deserts.

Under this strategy, the country aims to employ more than 500,000 people by 2024 of which 75 per cent will be Omani nationals.

“The announcement of the 2040 tourism strategy for Oman provides us with a clearly defined and structured road map for future growth and expansion ensuring that tourism becomes one of the most important economic pillars for the country’s future,” said Oman’s director general of tourism promotion Salim Al Mamari.

The country recently increased the passenger tax for domestic and international flights as one of several measures to boost government coffers