Total investment in travel and tourism set to hit $1.17
billion by 2026; Visitor numbers increase 15% through October 2016; Hotel
occupancy rates forecasted to rise by 3% this year; Sultanate to go on charm
offensive at Arabian Travel Market 2017
Oman’s
tourism and hospitality industry is building momentum, with total investment in
the sector set to hit US$1.17 billion by 2026, according to the World Travel
and Tourism Council (WTTC).
The Sultanate returns to Arabian Travel
Market (ATM) at Dubai World Trade Centre this year (April 24-27) to showcase
its expanding hotel and tourism infrastructure pipeline following a successful
2016 with visitor numbers in the first ten months of the year growing to reach
2.5 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 15%.
Simon Press, Senior Exhibition
Director, ATM, said: “It is no wonder that Oman is so popular and was recently named
as one of the top ten places to visit in 2017 by a selection of the world’s top
media. The country boasts a fantastic mix of culture, history and adventure for
travelers, while the $120 million Majarat Oman futuristic theme park, set to
open in 2017, will add to the huge selection of options available for
families.”
The Reed Travel Exhibitions team
were in Muscat to meet with key industry players from across Oman and discuss
exhibitor opportunities for ATM 2017, with the total contribution of travel and
tourism in the country set to rise to $785 million by 2026, according to the
WTTC.
A report from Colliers International said: “Although the country faces significant competition other
popular regional destinations, Oman has been able to distinguish itself as a
unique tourism destination, being home to many eco, cultural and heritage
attractions.”
To
cope with the projected increased demand, hotel supply in Oman increased by 2,022
keys in 2016, and although occupancy rates were down 11% over that period, largely
due to lower oil prices, which subdued business travel, as well as the effect
that weaker currencies had on the UK and EU leisure markets, this is expected
to recover by 3% through 2017.
The Colliers report said: “With
the recent opening of the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, which is
expected to host around 28 exhibition events in 2017, the market is expected to
see a slight recovery, with the hotel occupancy forecasted to close at 58%.”
According
to the latest data from STR, Oman currently has 15,843 hotels, with another 6,347
rooms in the pipeline, representing growth of 40.1%.
A
further area of growth for Oman is through passengers arriving at the country’s
airports, with a 17% increase in total airport arrivals through to the end of
December 2016, while the new terminal at Muscat International Airport, which is
expected to open this year, will have a capacity of 12 million passengers per
annum.
Salalah
International Airport (SAIA) has a current capacity of one million travelers annually
with the ability to increase this further by up to six million. And six other
airports are either in planning or construction phase, including the new
airport at Ras Al Hadd.
Press
added: “Oman’s tourism industry continues to grow and its offering keeps expanding
to cater for the diverse needs of today’s travelers. Experiential tourism is
the spotlight theme of ATM 2017 and this is central to the whole tourism
experience in Oman.”
Among
the Oman-based exhibitors already
committed to participating at this year’s ATM include: Sex Senses Zighy
Bay Resort & Spa, Al Bustan Palace Ritz Carlton, Anantara Jabal Akhdar
Resort, Kempinski Hotel Muscat, Shangri_la Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa and
Intercontinental Muscat.
ATM - considered by many industry professionals as a
barometer for the Middle East and North Africa tourism sector, witnessed a
year-on-year visitor attendance increase of 9% to over 28,500 in 2016, with
2,785 exhibiting companies, signing business deals worth more than US$ 2.5
billion over four days.
ATM 2017 will build on its
success with the announcement of an additional hall as Reed Travel Exhibitions
looks to add to its record-breaking achievements of 2016.
For more information on Arabian Travel Market
2017, please visit: www.arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com