Oman set to emerge as a leading golfing destination

At least 10 golf courses are at various stages of construction or planning throughout Oman, with each championship course to be integrated into a series of new tourism complexes
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Gold, Frankincense and Mirth in deepest Arabia

Dubai may be the current Gulf hot spot, but if you want a taste of old Arabia with pristine beaches, excellent hotels and a vibrant culture, then Oman is hard to beat. Martin Love takes his family east for an exotic winter sun holiday
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What will be the hottest destination for 2008?
The Observer, Sunday December 9 2007
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Vogue names Oman 'Destination of Year 2008'

OMAN's aspirations of becoming a top-class attraction for holidaymakers worldwide has received a big New Year boost with an internationally reputed fashion and style magazine naming it the destination for 2008. Vogue, one of the world's most influential magazines that combines beauty, style, glamour, design, fashion and contemporary culture, and also publishes articles on art, politics and society, in its 'Vogue.com Oracle 2008' web edition, strongly recommends the Sultanate as a place to visit, describing it as a 'modern travel destination'.
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Oman Tourism College Inaugurated

The Omani Minister of Tourism recently inaugurated the Oman Tourism College (OTC) which is in line with the vision of the Omani Sultan.
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The New Exclusive and Luxury Hotspot

Oman is experiencing robust growth in tourism. According to the Tourism Authority and the Ministry of the Economy, leisure visitor arrivals almost doubled between 2000 and 2005. Leading the tourist arrivals boom, leisure tourism noticed a hefty increase in 2006. Oman 's natural landscape includes a long coastline, majestic deserts, several mountain ranges and a lush southern region. Increasing awareness of Oman , new hotels and resort facilities and the development of more destination activities will help drive tourist arrivals. The rise in tourist arrivals creates opportunities for all tourism sectors, from travel agents and tour operators to accommodation and transportation providers.

Oman 's Development Boom

A development boom is underway in Oman . Inspired by the large-scale building and massive tourism inflows in neighbouring Dubai , during the latter part of the review period, the Sultanate announced several mega projects, including the multi billion Blue City residential project, the Wave – a mega mixed-use development and the Muriya tourism project (a joint-venture between the government and Egypt 's Orascom). Oman 's development boom is concurrent with the government's push to increase tourism. All these investments, directly or indirectly, will give a boost to the Omani tourism industry. Resorts and other development projects are important in increasing tourist traffic to Oman . The increased business activities, driven by the larger projects, will boost business arrivals to the country, while the presence of more hotels and resorts will attract leisure tourists. Hence, these development projects impact positively on the hotels business in both the leisure and business segments.

Government in the Lead

Oman 's government is one of the most pro-active 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. It embarked on a promotional and marketing blitz, appointing destination marketing agents in key markets ( UK , Germany , France ) as well as participating in tourism fairs and conventions. Furthermore, in 2006, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the UAE and Oman to increase flights on Sharjah – Muscat – Sharjah route. Under the MoU, flights between the two countries will increase to eleven a week on Sharjah – Muscat route and four a week on Sharjah – Salalah route. The MoU was signed to meet the rising demand for flights between the two countries.


The New Tourism Hotspot for Gulf Tourists

Oman is seeing large growth in the number of visitors coming from the Middle East , especially from the GCC countries. In 2006, visitors from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are expected to increase exponentially. Oman 's tourism authority identified regional travellers as a key emerging market. As a result, officials are putting more effort into promoting Oman to its neighbours, apart from Europe, Asia-Pacific and Russia . The grand opening of Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa celebrated in 2005 is expected to attract numerous wealthy Gulf tourists. The much anticipated property comprises the exclusive Al Husn, Al Bandar, and the family-oriented Al Waha. All rooms and suites are sea-facing and overlook the beach.