Restaurants and cafés in Oman that are managed through franchise contracts and located in designated tourist areas must now pay a fee to the ministry, a report said.

The fee will be calculated on the basis of the amount spent in these establishments by customers who come there. The new ruling will come into effect as of January 1, 2020, said a report in Times of Oman.

“According to the Ministerial Resolution No. 56/2019, some provisions of the executive regulations have been amended. Restaurants and cafes will have to pay tourist fees that amount to four per cent of all its sales starting from January 1, 2020. It has to be paid to the ministry on a quarterly basis in accordance with the controls and procedures stipulated in the decision. In case of delay, fines will be imposed in accordance with article 7 of the same decision,” it said citing a statement from Oman’s Ministry of Tourism.

Details for the classification criteria for restaurants can be found on the website of the Ministry of Tourism.