• Nizwa Fort in Nizwa, Oman. All pictures: Victor Besa / The National
    Nizwa Fort in Nizwa, Oman. All pictures: Victor Besa / The National
  • It was built in the 1650s by Imam Sultan Bin Saif Al Ya'rubi.
    It was built in the 1650s by Imam Sultan Bin Saif Al Ya'rubi.
  • It is Oman's most visited national monument.
    It is Oman's most visited national monument.
  • Imam Sultan Bin Saif Al Ya'rubi was the second of the Ya'rubi dynasty of imams.
    Imam Sultan Bin Saif Al Ya'rubi was the second of the Ya'rubi dynasty of imams.
  • The fort's underlying structure dates back to the 12th century.
    The fort's underlying structure dates back to the 12th century.
  • Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Amri Trading. The souq has different parts depending on what you want to shop for.
    Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Amri Trading. The souq has different parts depending on what you want to shop for.
  • In the mornings you will see locals buying vegetables and meat. The rest of the souq sells unique souvenirs like taqiya caps, lamps and fresh dates.
    In the mornings you will see locals buying vegetables and meat. The rest of the souq sells unique souvenirs like taqiya caps, lamps and fresh dates.
  • Located near the castle, the souq offers a glimpse of old Oman.
    Located near the castle, the souq offers a glimpse of old Oman.
  • A shop owner brings out his wares. Some sections of the souq have retained its ancient architecture and unrenovated structures.
    A shop owner brings out his wares. Some sections of the souq have retained its ancient architecture and unrenovated structures.
  • Masjid Al Rasool Al A'dham at Mutrah Fish Market.
    Masjid Al Rasool Al A'dham at Mutrah Fish Market.
  • The fish market stretches along the Mutrah waterfront in Muscat. Omani fishermen arrive early to unload, prepare and then sell their day’s catch.
    The fish market stretches along the Mutrah waterfront in Muscat. Omani fishermen arrive early to unload, prepare and then sell their day’s catch.
  • The Mutrah Souq is located along the corniche in Muscat.
    The Mutrah Souq is located along the corniche in Muscat.
  • It is one of the oldest souqs on the Arabian Peninsula.
    It is one of the oldest souqs on the Arabian Peninsula.
  • However, the souq was rebuilt in the 1970s.
    However, the souq was rebuilt in the 1970s.
  • Jamal Muhammad Ali Al Balooshi, shopowner at Mutrah Souq.
    Jamal Muhammad Ali Al Balooshi, shopowner at Mutrah Souq.
  • Mutrah Corniche in Muscat.
    Mutrah Corniche in Muscat.
  • A shopper at Mutrah Souq.
    A shopper at Mutrah Souq.
  • Another person browses at Mutrah Souq.
    Another person browses at Mutrah Souq.
  • Oman's Royal Opera House of Musical Arts in Muscat.
    Oman's Royal Opera House of Musical Arts in Muscat.
  • The 'Oman and the World: A Musical Journey Exhibition' at the opera house.
    The 'Oman and the World: A Musical Journey Exhibition' at the opera house.
  • A person looking around the exhibition.
    A person looking around the exhibition.
  • A restaurant that looks like a fort, located along Sultan Qaboos Street in Muscat.
    A restaurant that looks like a fort, located along Sultan Qaboos Street in Muscat.
  • Mandi, made with Omani samar wood.
    Mandi, made with Omani samar wood.
  • The Rozna restaurant is known for serving the best authentic Omani food in Muscat.
    The Rozna restaurant is known for serving the best authentic Omani food in Muscat.
  • The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat. The chandelier sits 14 metres above the praying hall.
    The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat. The chandelier sits 14 metres above the praying hall.
  • In 1992, Qaboos bin Said Al Said, then Sultan of Oman, ordered the building of the grand mosque.
    In 1992, Qaboos bin Said Al Said, then Sultan of Oman, ordered the building of the grand mosque.
  • The chandelier was manufactured by the Italian company Faustig.
    The chandelier was manufactured by the Italian company Faustig.
  • Khalifa Nasser Al Maskery, 70, has been a volunteer tour guide at the mosque for more than eight years.
    Khalifa Nasser Al Maskery, 70, has been a volunteer tour guide at the mosque for more than eight years.
  • A competition for the mosque's design took place in 1993.
    A competition for the mosque's design took place in 1993.
  • Construction started in December 1994.
    Construction started in December 1994.
  • The chandelier used to be the world's largest, before being replaced by one at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
    The chandelier used to be the world's largest, before being replaced by one at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

Gulf

Oman

Oman expects huge boost in tourist numbers during winter

Local tourism events and coming Fifa World Cup will give country a much needed shot in the arm

Ali Al Shouk
Ali Al Shouk

September 30, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Oman is expecting to attract a huge number of international tourists, as the winter season makes it a perfect destination for outdoor activities.

Besides the great weather, the country is expected to welcome more visitors thanks to the Fifa World Cup that will kick off in Doha, Qatar, in November.

National airline Oman Air has already signed a co-operation agreement with Qatar Airways in the lead-up to the event, and per the agreement, 21 daily flights will be operated between Muscat and Doha.

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism reported that there will be more than 50 events hosted in Oman in the coming months that are expected to attract more than 300,000 people.

Oman's struggling tourism sector showed signs of revival after the country reopened its land border with the UAE on September 1, 2021. Since then, thousands of people have travelled from the Emirates to Oman.

In the first five months of 2021, with Covid restrictions in place, only 113,000 people visited Oman. The number shot up by 602 per cent this year, with 794,000 travellers coming to the sultanate.

Of these, 301,249 visitors came from the UAE — the highest of any country.

Extensive marketing campaigns and trade shows in foreign countries have also bolstered Oman's appeal overseas.

Jamal Muhammad Ali Al Balooshi, a shop owner at Mutrah Souq, says business is picking up. Victor Besa / The National
Jamal Muhammad Ali Al Balooshi, a shop owner at Mutrah Souq, says business is picking up. Victor Besa / The National

Azzan Al Busaidi, the undersecretary for tourism, said the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has undertaken recent promotional tours in India, Germany and the UK.

“We want to attract tourists to Oman. It is a destination to visit in any season and famous for its natural beauty, cultural heritage and hospitality,” he said.

Mr Al Busaidi added that there has been a 39.3 per cent jump in the number of Omanis working in the hospitality sector, from 3,752 in 2020 to 5,230 last year.

“The tourism sector can provide more jobs and investment opportunities,” he said at a meeting to mark World Tourism Day on Tuesday.

“It shows resilience and the ability to recover quickly from a setback. We've seen a substantial increase in the number of visitors, hotel revenue and occupancy rates.”

Oman's ambitious plan to boost tourism

Oman expects to bring in more than 9 billion rials ($22.5 billion) a year from tourism by 2040 as it bids to diversify its economy away from oil.

One of the economic pillars of Oman's 2040 Economic Vision is to increase revenue from tourism.

The contribution of the tourism sector to gross domestic product was 2.4 per cent in 2021, and the country aims to increase it to 5 per cent by 2030 and 10 per cent by 2040.

The goal is to increase the number of visitors to 11.7 million by 2040 by investing $51 billion.

The National Centre for Statistics and Information said that 652,000 people visited Oman last year; 874,444 visited in 2020; 3,506,441 in 2019 and 3,241,757 in 2018.

Omani merchants hope business will improve as more people visit.

Jamal Al Belooshi, an Omani merchant who owns four shops at Mutrah Souq in Muscat, told The National that more tourists are visiting the traditional market after the easing of pandemic restrictions.

“There is a steady flow of tourists as the souq is a must-visit destination when travelling to Oman,” said Mr Al Belooshi.

“Before Covid-19, Omanis and residents used to go outside the country to enjoy their time but during travel restrictions, people from different parts of Oman started coming to the souq to buy goods,” he added.

“Business is flourishing again.”

In 2021, Lonely Planet ranked Oman among the world's top 10 destinations to travel to in 2022.

The sultanate is known for its natural beauty, Bedouin values and rich heritage.

Must-see attractions in Oman

Souq Mutrah

Nizwa fort and Souq

Bahla fort

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

Musandam beaches

Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve

Shatti Al Qurum

Wadi Bani Khalid

Wadi Shab

Wadi Damm

Jebel Akhdar

The National Museum

Jebel Shams

Majlis Al Jinn cave

Royal Opera House Muscat

Sharqiya sands (Bidiyah)

Dimaniyat Island

Volunteers offer workers a lifeline

Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.

When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.

Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.

Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.

“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.

Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.

“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.

WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS

England v New Zealand

(Saturday, 12pm UAE)

Wales v South Africa

(Sunday, 12pm, UAE)

 

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