The number of Omani guests in the country's four and five star hotels during January to June 2011 increased by 8.3 per cent from 49,824 in the same period in 2010 to 53,981 in 2011.

According to the government's Monthly Statistical Bulletin (July 2011), the number of guests from the GCC countries during the same period decreased by 7.9 per cent, from 30,458 in 2010 to 28,061 in 2011.

The bulletin says the hotel guests from other Arab countries increased by 13.7 per cent from 10,266 during the first half of 2010 to 11,676 till June this year.

The number of African guests in Oman's 4 and 5 star hotels increased by 22.9 per cent from 1,714 in 2010 to 2,106 this year during the period under study.

Asian, European and American guests increased by 9.9,14. 5 and 10.7 per cent respectively during the period under study from 35,813 to 39,353 (Asians), 94,319 to 108,015 (Europeans) and 13,038 to 14,437 (Americans).

Significantly, the statistical bulletin indicates that with regard to the number of guests in Oman's four and five star hotels, there was an 8.8 per cent increase from 248,882 in 2010 to 270,696 in 2011 during the period under study.

In terms of the revenue to the hotels from these guests, there was a two per cent overall increase from RO 60,352 million in 2010 to RO 60,498 million in 2011 during the period under study.

Occupancy rate in five star hotels declined by 10.7 per cent from 55.3 per cent in 2010 to 49.4 per cent this year. Occupancy rate in four star

hotels decreased by 3.9 per cent from 58.4 per cent in 2010 to 56.1 per cent in 2011.

From the above date, one can safely conclude the Oman's tourism and hospitality sector is relatively well established and is on a roll and that it is resilient enough to stand tall in the face of international economic meltdown.

Earlier reports by experts have also signalled a booming tourism and hospitality sector in Oman which attests to Oman's tourist image as unrivalled in the region.