CONTRIBUTION OF TRAVEL &
TOURISM TO EMPLOYMENT 260.5 JOBS (000’s)
Expected in 2019209.9 JOBS (000’s)
(9.2% of total employment)INTERNATIONAL VISITOR
IMPACT OMR1,211.4 MN
(7.0% of total exports)2.8 MN
Expected international arrivals for 2019CONTRIBUTION OF TRAVEL &
TOURISM TO GDP 9.3% OF TOTAL ECONOMY
Total T & T GDP = OMR2,703.5MN (US$7,031MN)-0.5%
2018 Travel & Tourism GDP growthOMAN 2018 KEY DATA
Showing a significant progress in the
implementation of the strategy, the
performance indicators of the tourism
sector in 2018 reflected a significant
development compared to 2017. The
number of hotels of all categories
increased to 412 in 2018 compared to
367 in 2017. The direct added value of
the tourism sector in 2018 rose to 912
million in 2018, compared to 728 million
in 2017. The total contribution of the
sector to the GDP stood at 9.2 per cent in
2018 compared to 6.2 per cent in 2017.World Travel & Tourism Council
(WTTC) in a recent report revealed that
the travel and tourism sector could
provide additional employment to
260,500 people by 2029, the number is
around 50,000 higher than the present
figure of 209,900 people engaged in
such activities. WTTC report said
that in 2018, foreign inbound tourists
contributed RO1.21bn to Oman’s
economy. According to the report, India,
which contributes significantly to the
sultanate’s foreign workforce, also
accounted for the maximum, 19 per
cent of the total foreign tourists arrived
in 2018, while neighbouring country
United Arab Emirates came at the
second place with just 11 per cent share
in inbound arrivals.As per the report, around 2.8 million
visitors from different countries are
expected to visit the sultanate this year.
It also indicated that around 68 per cent
of the total money spent by tourists
is on leisure activities while business
spending accounts for the remaining 32
per cent share in overall spending.Getting a facelift
Oman is making great strides in the
Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and
Exhibitions (MICE) sector. The selection
of the Sultanate as the official partner
of ITB Berlin 2020- the world’s largest
travel trade show is one of the recent
achievements in this regard. This will
increase Oman’s attractiveness before a
global audience in 2020.Oman Convention and Exhibition
Centre boasts of 22,000 square metres
of exhibition space and 55 meeting
rooms. This striking complex has
hosted a number of large international
conventions already this year and has
won several bids that will bring huge
numbers to the Sultanate in the years
to come. This property will complement
Oman’s MICE sector growth, thanks to
1,200 square meters of functions space,
two grand ballrooms and six meeting
and board rooms.