(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- The number of tourists in the 2017 khareef dropped by 1.2 per cent to 644,931 compared to 652,986 in the 2016 season.However, tourists spent RO66mn in 2017 compared to RO65mn in 2016, according to data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
According to a survey conducted by the NCSI between June 21 and September 21, 2017, average per capita expenses increased from RO101 in 2016 to RO103 in 2017.
The occupancy level touched 35.3 per cent of total tourism expenditure while spending on shopping, transportation and entertainment was 22.4 per cent, food and drink comprised 22.6 per cent of the total expenses.
In July and August, hotel revenue from food and drink in Dhofar recorded the highest level at 82.6 per cent and 70.8 per cent respectively. Other revenues of the hotels increased in July and August, reflecting a clear increase in tourists' spending on other items.
In total, leisure and entertainment tourism was 90.8 per cent which is valued as RO60mn of the total tourism expenditure in 2017.
Business tourism valued as 5.2 per cent of total expenditure.
Total withdrawals from ATMs in Dhofar during the khareef season in 2017 were RO523.77mn, where as peak time for these withdrawals were in August at RO108.473mn, comprising an increase by 20.5 per cent over the previous month.
Since most of the visitors were families, comprising an average size of five persons, the preferred type of accommodations were apartments and furnished houses, which led the total expenditure on this type of housing to exceed RO48mn, comprising 73 per cent of the total expenditure of tourists on housing.
The number of nights spent during the khareef season in 2017 was 4.350mn compared to 4.396mn in the 2016 season, with a decline of one per cent.
Statistics show that Omanis comprise 78 per cent of the total tourists' nights compared to 77 per cent in the 2016 season, a growth of 0.7 per cent.
The GCC tourists, including Omanis comprised 89.3 per cent of the total tourists. The number of Omani tourists stood at 458,579 which is 71.1 per cent of the total number, while the number of visitors from the UAE touched 57,352, comprising 8.9 per cent of total. The number of tourists from Saudi Arabia stood at 39,115 comprising 6.1 per cent of total during the khareef season in 2017. The number of tourists from Qatar stood at 8,076 visitors, comprising 1.3 per cent, Kuwaitis stood at 6,612, comprising one per cent, Bahrain tourists were 6,672, comprising one per cent, and other Arab tourists stood at 16,616, constituting 2.6 per cent of total. Asian tourists were 44,801, comprising 6.9 per cent while tourists of other nationalities were 7,508 constituting 1.2 per cent of total during the season.
Although, the main reason for the slight fall in the number of visitors in 2017 was due to the late onset of khareef season and starting of school year, the number of tourists in the season maintained annual growth rate of 11.9 per cent since 2015.
The tourism for entertainment purpose was 93.8 per cent in terms of the number of visitors while the rest 3.2 per cent were for business and 2.3 per cent for visiting family and friends.
The number of tourists of khareef season who came through land routes were the highest compared to those coming through flights. The number of tourists who came through land routes stood at 478,872 which is 74.3 per cent compared ro 166,059 tourists who came through flights, comprising 25.7 per cent.
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