increase the capacity to 20 million
passengers per year. There is also
the potential for a further expansion
that would see the capacity rise to
more than 50 million passengers per
annum in the next decade.
The fact that the airport recorded
more than 11 million passengers in the
period of January through to September
2018, a 9.8 per cent increase over the
same period last year is extremely
encouraging. The government envisions
the airport’s capacity to be adequate
until 2028 as the new terminal is
designed to accommodate up to 56
million passengers per annum.
The passenger numbers at the airport
have been growing consistently since
2012 at an average rate of 13.3 per cent
per year, including the first nine months
of 2018. If this pace of growth continues,
the new terminal will reach its capacity
in 2028.
The government also expects easy
connectivity and ease of travel to
cement the airport’s position as a
hub, in addition to encouraging more
tourists. Oman Air has launched new
destinations this year, connecting the
Sultanate to Moscow, Casablanca and
Istanbul, and the route network has
so far been selective, with a special
focus on the Middle East, East Africa,
Southeast Asia and Western Europe.
Ultimately, all of these developments
will play vital roles in attracting more
and more holiday-makers to Oman.Heritage tourism
Alongside the large-scale developments
taking place in the country, Oman is
ensuring it still places an emphasis
on its natural assets and cultural
attractions. The recently developed
Oman Tourism Strategy (OTS) has
recognised and highlighted the
importance of preservation and
sustainability of the local environment
as tourism develops at a rapid pace.
Two aspects of the environment have
been identified: natural and cultural.Firmly rooted in its proud heritage
and history of seafaring, trading and
exploration, Oman’s long-standing
traditions merge seamlessly with
modern times, thus offering visitors
a genuine blend of ageless Arabian
tradition and modernism. Travellers
can even see the latest fashion and
electronics brands sold alongside
traditional handmade crafts and
jewelry at souqs around the country
which reflects the diversity and richness
of this culture.Oman’s architecture is also reflective
of this diversity. For instance, the Royal
Opera House Muscat, Sultan Qaboos
Grand Mosque and well-preserved
villages and attractions like the National
Museum, old forts and watchtowers like
Bahla fort, and several UNESCO worldheritage sites- are all icons that offer
glimpses into the heritage and culture
of this country. The fact that there is no
dearth of attractions and grand cultural
symbols help the Sultanate maintain a
keen focus in promoting them in more
appropriate ways.Promoting the country as a diverse
destination which encompasses
everything from the beach and luxury
to culture and adventure is helping to
attract visitors. The Ministry of Tourism
is participating in leading international
trade of 11 million international visitors
that was envisioned within the Oman
Tourism Strategy 2040.The Sultanate is keen on identifying and
participating in trade show, which it
utilises to create awareness of Oman’s
varied tourism offerings. The country
also organises familiarisation trips
throughout the year, and these target
social influencers, media and trade
companies that eventually report their
trips in their respective platforms and
promote Oman in these markets.This has proved very successful, as has
the establishment of eight international
representative offices in the GCC,
Ireland, Italy, France, Switzerland,
Holland, India and Germany. The
government has also opened an office
in Russia and is gearing up to explore
new markets such as China and the
United States.INBOUND ARRIVALS OUTBOUND DEPARTURES
INDIA 19%
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 11%
UNITED KINGDOM 10%
GERMANY 7%
PAKISTAN 4%
REST OF THE WORLD 49%UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 59%
SAUDI ARABIA 11%
INDIA 6%
QATAR 5%
BAHRAIN 4%
REST OF THE WORLD 15%Note: Data are average shares over the 2015-2017 period
Source: Oxford Economics, national sources and UNWT