Oman Among Favourite Destinations In 2008
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Oman Daily Observer: The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has outlined 2008 holiday destination trends wherein Oman figures high. According to ABTA, Oman is Arabia’s fastest growing and greenest destination, adding more luxury resorts. Over 85 per cent of package holidays in the United Kingdom are sold through ABTA members. In 2007, Sky News of the United Kingdom recognised the Sultanate as one of the hottest new travel destinations.
Under the heading ‘Deserts, caves, diving...Visit Oman’, they asked in their programme: “Are you adventurous, love the outdoors and looking for a new experience? Then head for one of the hottest destinations on the holiday list — the Sultanate of Oman. Oman is a breathtaking country with a diverse landscape of fjords, deserts, pristine reefs and rugged mountains — a perfect playground for outward-bound types.”
Sarah Modlock, renowned journalist with articles published in nearly every national newspaper in the UK as well as specialist publications and websites worldwide, listed Oman as one of the top 10 places to visit in 2007. She said, “Oman is an up and coming new destination for the New Year and has much more culture on offer than current Middle East favourites.” The Musandam peninsula is dubbed ‘the Norway of the Middle East’ and has its own sandy beaches. The Evason Hideaway & Six Senses Spa at Zighy Bay is scheduled to open soon, the article added.
The Columbus World Travel Guide of the UK, known as ‘the bible of the travel industry’, which was first published 26 years ago and has sold in over 90 countries worldwide, listed Oman among its hot destinations for 2007. “Travellers to the Middle East are increasingly heading for Oman, which offers stunning unspoilt deserts, tranquil oases, rugged mountains, peaceful beaches and rich cultural heritage, with friendly citizens and year-round sunshine thrown in for good measure.”
Ohmy News, the South Korean online newspaper that attracts up to 800,000 visitors and up to 2 million page views a day in its article “Oman tourism on growth trajectory — numerous projects in the works to boost infrastructure” highlighted the government’s initiatives to boost tourism. The interdiction read: “Tourism has become a major focus in the development policy of the Sultanate since the mid-90s, when the government embarked on the diversification of the national economy from oil to non-oil revenue sources. The tourism sector has been one of the important components of Oman 2020 plan for Oman’s economic growth that was launched and adopted as a long-term development strategy for the country.”
Erika Wang of The China Post in his article ‘Oman: a politically stable and open-minded country’ said that since the 1970 accession of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, Oman’s economy has been radically transformed to encourage market-oriented policies and private sector development. Currently, hottest destinations for 2008 have been identified and Oman remains to be a hot spot destination. Britain’s tour operators have identified the Middle East as the must-visit destination for next year, according to the Guardian.
Tom Robbins in his article titled ‘What will be the hottest destination for 2008’ in The Observer quoted Tom Barber, founding director of Original Travel, whose most popular destination is now Oman saying: “Ironically, all the recent problems in the Middle East have actually made people more aware of the region, and rather than putting them off, they have become fascinated. We see it kind of spreading out — people started in Dubai, then they looked over and got interested in Oman.
Demand is also being driven by the swathe of luxury hotels opening in the region for the first time. For example, the latest property in the Six Senses Hideaway portfolio will soon open at Zighy Bay in northern Oman’s remote Musandam peninsula. Guests will choose whether to arrive by speedboat, a 4x4 trip through the Hajar mountains, or as a passenger in a paraglider. Original Travel predicts Musandam peninsula, will be ‘enormous’ in 2008.
Tom Robbins traveled recently to Oman for a weekend in the Empty Quarter and wrote his article ‘Space, the final frontier’ published in The Observer — Travel. Matthew Brace, an award-winning travel writer, in his ‘Hot list 2008: Experience a world of exotic difference’ said: “Our appetite for exotic, adventurous, and historical travel is growing rapidly, according to both the travel industry insiders and travellers themselves. As far as destinations go, my travel thermometer tells me the following are seriously hot: Oman has had its first year of real tourism growth and will remain a travel hotspot. Plunge headfirst into the Muttrah souq in Muscat to shop for fizzing bowls of frankincense and myrrh. Stroll along the sea front road in the warm evening, in the footsteps of centuries of merchants from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Take a dhow cruise through the fjords of Musandam peninsula and camp under the stars. Hike high in the Western Hajjar mountains or explore beneath them in vast cave systems. Or head south to Salalah and follow the frankincense trail. Euromonitor International’s Travel and Tourism in a report identified Oman as a new luxury hotspot that is experiencing robust growth in tourism. Increasing awareness of Oman, new hotels and resort facilities and the development of more destination activities will help drive tourist arrivals, the article said.
A mention in Condé Nast Traveller pointed out that a development boom is under way in Oman, concurrent with the government’s push to increase tourism. All these investments, directly or indirectly, will give a boost to the Omani tourism industry. Oman’s government is one of the most proactive bodies in the region in terms of promoting tourism development. The government is active in encouraging private and foreign participation in the market, and is a co-investor in many tourism projects, the report said.
This tourism boom will create opportunities for all sectors, from travel agents and tour operators to accommodation and transportation providers, it added. Euromonitor International is one of the world’s leading independent providers of business intelligence on industries, countries and consumers. Usama bin Karim al Haremi, Head of Corporate Communications and Media Department of Oman Aviation Services (Oman Air), said that Oman was blessed with the most tempting natural locations in the Gulf and had started to take advantage of these resources in developing its tourism industry.
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