(MENAFN) Figures warned that the ending of visas on arrival in Oman will slow up travelers' impulsion as well as business, tourism and industry.
Oman announced on Wednesday that travelers will have to apply in advance for a tourist visa online.
Tour operators, mainly reliant on UAE residents, said their business model would be hit by the new rules.
"People in the GCC countries come to talk business just for a day. It was easy for them just to get a visa at the airport," Suleiman Al Khalili, chief executive officer of Muscat Real Estate Development Company, told The National.
"Now, they would need to apply online and wait for confirmation that may take time. This will affect the way we do businesses with our partners in the region when we need to seal a deal in a speedy way."
"These are the tourists who make spontaneous decision the previous evening and just catch a flight in the morning," said Khamis Al Harrasy, owner of Al Batnah Tours, based in Sohar.
On its side, Oman's police asserted Thursday that the new measures are an improvement.
"You can apply from anywhere in the world, and, receive the visa in five minutes. All it takes are three steps. We hope to increase the number of tourists coming to Oman with the new online procedures in greater number than the old procedures," a statement said.
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