|
MUSCAT Prospects are bright for tourism development in the country, according to Her Excellency Dr Rajha Bint Abdulameer Bin Ali, Minister of Tourism.
Speaking to Oman Tribune, she said the Sultanate enjoys distinct capabilities and unique cultural and environmental features which make it an attractive tourism hub.
The political and economic stability witnessed by the Sultanate since the dawn of the Blessed Renaissance and good hospitality made tourism a constantly growing sector, contributing greatly to the national economy and the development of the Omani society, she added.
“The GDP of the sector (value-added) rose from 54 million rials in 1990 to 164 million rials in 2008, with an average annual growth rate of 6.4 per cent. The number of hotels and hotel apartments has increased from 30 in 1990 to 195 in 2008, with an average annual growth rate of 10 per cent. The number of rooms has stood at 10,000,” she said.
She also said that the flow of tourists in recent years has increased to about 1.4 million in 2008 compared to about one million tourists in 2004.
She said the Sultanate has given incentives and facilities to investors from the private sector, both domestic and foreign, and has implemented various tourist projects in many provinces and regions.
“The government has given priority to the tourism sector since the beginning of the 1990s. In 1995 we formulated a future vision for Oman’s economy titled “Oman 2020”, which expected the tourism sector to assume a leading role in the path of long-term development in the economic and social sectors.
“Tourism witnessed a significant development at many levels, including development of the legislative and legal environment such as the preparation and adoption of the Tourism Law in 2002 and the issuance of Property Ownership regulation in integrated tourism complexes.
“The ministry is working closely with Oman Air to promote the tourism sector through the expansion of the aviation network in recent years. The recent launch of
Continued from Page 1
direct flights to Frankfurt and Munich (Germany), Paris, the Maldives and Colombo (Sri Lanka) are some of the initiatives in this direction.
“The total value of revenue from hotels and restaurants in 2008 reached 164 million rials, with a relative increase of 0.7 per cent. Hotels, restaurants, airlines and travel agencies, tourism and car rental companies and diving clubs increase the sector’s contribution to GDP significantly. The findings of a survey conducted by the Ministry of National Economy and the Ministry of Tourism, with technical help from the World Tourism Organisation found that the sector contributed about 3 per cent per annum to Oman’s GDP from 2005 to 2008.
“The total number of hotel rooms available currently is 10,285 in various categories with the hotel apartments registering a high growth rate of 10.4 per cent compared to 2008. The hotel occupancy rate has reached 68 per cent,” she added.
|
