Oman’s Ministry of Tourism has unveiled new projects to develop luxurious hotels in order to address the rising numbers of guest arrivals as well as the booming local tourism industry.

The announcement was made during the ongoing Arabian Travel Market show in Dubai, UAE, and came as a positive indicator of the rapidly expanding tourism sector within the Sultanate.

The trade exhibition provided a platform for the Ministry of Tourism to showcase the recent luxurious hotel openings to various travel agents, thus providing an additional tool to aid in selling the destination to potential visitors, said a statement.

According to a study conducted by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the Sultanate saw an increase in revenues and guest nights, recording a 26.1 growth in guest numbers in December last year against the previous years, making a jump from RO150.4 billion ($389.1 billion).

Oman’s four- and five-stars hotels also witnessed a total year-on-year revenue growth of 10.3 per cent in the same period.

Maitha Al Mahrooqi, undersecretary, Oman Ministry of Tourism, said: “We are both pleased and excited to witness the positive developments in our tourism industry. As of now, Business Monitor Index (BMI) has predicted that there will be 1.14 million tourist arrivals this year, representing a three per cent increase from the previous year as tourist receipts reach $2.24 billion, up by five per cent year-on-year.

“As more and more people flock to have an exotic and authentic travel experience, we want to provide superior services and top-quality experiences to our travellers from the Gulf and all over the world.”

Meanwhile, the ministry is throwing the spotlight on luxury developments, collaborating with iconic international brands. The top 10 projects that are currently being developed in the country boasts a total investment value of just over 43.3 billion.

Among those that will be opening their doors will be hotels from Westin, St Regis and W, as well as Ritz Carlton- the Muscat Reserve at $200 million.

High-end mixed-use developments such as the Saraya Bandar Jissah Resort valued at $840 million are also underway as well as the Kempinski Hotel, Louis Vuitton Hotel and Fairmont Hotel which will be completed in the next few years. - TradeArabia News Service