TravTalk India Online Magazine
New Delhi: The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, recently concluded its first city in the five-city India roadshow in Delhi. The event witnessed an overwhelming response from the travel trade. The roadshow commenced with Delhi on 22 August 2022, followed by the cities of Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bangalore until 29 August 2022. The roadshow garnered interest from over 125 travel trade agents
In attendance at the roadshow were 10 private players from Oman, including Eihab Travels LLC, Discover Oman, Golden Oryx Tours, Kempinski Hotel Muscat, Zahara Tours, Visit Oman, Khimji’s House of Travel, and Bahwan Tourism. The two airlines, Oman Air, the national carrier, and Salam Air, the first low-cost carrier in the region, also had key representatives present, including the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism’s MICE and wedding tourism representatives.
The well-attended event had the Indian travel trade conduct successful business interactions with Oman Tourism officials. Post a presentation on the destination showcasing the varied tourist attractions in the country. Agents were confident in promoting Oman as a tourist, especially for its nature, culture, and adventure activities.
Commenting on the roadshow, Asma Al Hajry, Deputy DG of Tourism Promotions, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, said, “We are extremely happy with the reception Oman Tourism received during its recent roadshow in Delhi. Interactions with agents suggested a renewed focus and commitment to promoting Oman among their clients. India has always been close to Oman, not just for tourism but as a country with similar values. We are proud of the fact that India continues to maintain its second position in tourist arrivals and look forward to the country touching an apex point.”
Recent statistics from the ministry report that the number of Indian arrivals into Oman for just the month of July 2022 stood at 36,087. It is the highest in the last 10 years. Furthermore, the total number of Indian tourist arrivals in Oman from January to July 2022 stood at 167,678 visitors.
Oman Tourism during the event presented several tourist experiences such as off-road adventures, forts and castles, an authentic Omani experience of living in the villages, reliving the land of Frankincense story and much more. Attendees were also given a glimpse of the Khareef (monsoon) season wherein the whole city of Dhofar turns green through the presentation. Muscat has the oldest Muttrah fort dating back to the 16th century, and the country also has a total of five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, along with the Green Turtles that migrate to the Omani beaches every year.
The evening would not have been complete without the mention of the adventure in Oman. The country fits well into an adventure enthusiast’s list, be it paragliding, kite surfing, mountain biking, hiking, caving and much more. For the adrenalin-buzzed tourist, there is an exploration of the largest cave chambers in the world, Majlis Al Jinn, snorkelling the colourful coral reefs of the Daymaniyat Islands or camping under the stars in the A’Sharqiyah Sands.
Oman Air touched upon the forthcoming FIFA World Cup, highlighting the scheduling of as many as 48 shuttle flights, including a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that will operate daily between Muscat and Doha. The extra flights will be deployed during the FIFA World Cup from 21 November to 3 December 2022. Passengers can also book return match day shuttle flights via the Oman Air website (omanair.com), with prices starting from just OMR 49 for Economy Class and OMR 155 for Business Class. However, passengers are advised to arrive in Doha four hours before the start of a match due to the high frequency of flights each day. All passengers must register for a Hayya card (fan ID) as this is mandatory for travel on all match-day shuttle flights and entry into Qatar. A no-check-in baggage policy also allows passengers to plan an easy-in, easy-out travel itinerary.
The event witnessed an air of optimism, especially from an industry that was badly affected by the pandemic. Post a sumptuous lunch, agents were treated to some exciting prizes that included a two-night complete package for two people, including air tickets from Oman Air. In addition to the grand prize, several lucky attendees also won free air tickets from Oman Air and Salam Air.
Post the much-talked-about roadshow, Oman Tourism officials met with the leaders of the industry, the top travel agencies for a better understanding of the market.
