TravTalk India Online Magazine
As Oman continues to strengthen its position as a top-tier global destination, the ongoing partnership with Indian travel agents and strategic initiatives undertaken by the sultanate are poised to attract more visitors from India.
Janice Alyosius
The Sultanate of Oman recently organised its four-city India roadshow to showcase the country’s allure as a premier destination for Indian travellers seeking luxury, culture, and adventure. The roadshow, covering New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru, highlighted Oman’s growing appeal for the Indian tourism market.
Emphasising on the significance of Indian market for Oman’s tourism sector, His Excellency Azzan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of Tourism for the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, said, “India ranks as Oman’s second-largest source market.”
The statistics underscore this importance: Indian visitor numbers to Oman surged past 625,000 in 2023, reflecting a remarkable growth of over 70 per cent from the previous year. This upward trend shows no signs of slowing, with a 15 per cent increase in arrivals recorded in the first five months of 2024 alone.
H.E. Al Busaidi attributed this growth to a combination of factors, including the success of the recent roadshows and the invaluable support from Indian travel agents. “The numbers we are seeing right now show a significant increase in inbound tourists from India to Oman. I believe, this is due to many factors, but foremost among them are the roadshows and other activities that Oman Tourism is conducting here in India,” he noted.
He expressed optimism about continued growth, saying, “I believe, in the next phase, the numbers are expected to grow even further.”
In 2023, Oman welcomed 4 million inbound tourists, with over 600,000 coming from India—a significant rise from 350,000 the previous year. H.E. Al Busaidi anticipates even higher numbers for this year, with 265,000 Indian travellers already recorded in the first five months. “If this pace continues, I am confident we will surpass last year’s numbers. To further increase this figure, which is our objective, we need to conduct more roadshows, campaigns, and raise market awareness. We also require support not only from our market-based representatives here in India but also from Indian travel agents, who play a key role in achieving these goals,” he said.
Oman is also taking strides in creating an attractive investment environment. Seeking Indian investments in the tourism sector, H.E. Al Busaidi said, “We welcome Indian investments in the tourism sector in various forms. Several incentives will be provided, including long-term land leases at minimal charges, tax incentives, and other financial and non-financial benefits to encourage more investments from India in Oman’s tourism sector. I believe, these investments will not only increase the number of tourists from Oman to India but also vice versa.”
The potential for expanded connectivity between Oman and India is also on the horizon. H.E. Al Busaidi highlighted that some airlines are already flying to 10 destinations in India and performing well, with Indian airlines also serving various Omani cities. He expressed readiness to facilitate the expansion of flight services, saying, “If increasing the number of tourists requires additional flights, we will coordinate with the relevant departments to make it happen.”
The Indian market is particularly vital for MICE and wedding tourism in Oman. Acknowledging the importance of the segments, H.E. Al Busaidi said, “India is considered one of our key markets for tourism, and we look forward to increasing the number of tourists from India to Oman across different segments, including MICE.”
