Oman- Sultanate biggest gainer as most famous destination in Middle East

(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- The sultanate is the biggest gainer in the Middle East in terms of visitor turnout, popular tourist site 'Wego' for reserving flight tickets and hotels affirmed.

The report published by the Daily Travel News magazine said that the sultanate witnessed the largest incline of foreign tourists during the first quarter of 2018 after it jumped nine places, which is an improvement that might be associated with operating the new Muscat International Airport, as well as a group of new hotels.

According to the new quarterly report, the sultanate advanced nine places in the most famous destinations index in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The sultanate is ranked seventh at the Arab level and eight in the Middle East.

The World Travel and Tourism Council's (WTTC) Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2018 for Oman has forecast robust growth in all spheres of tourism industry, ranking the sultanate 18th in the world (from among 185 countries) for long-term growth forecast for 2018-28. It also forecasts that by 2028, international tourist arrivals to Oman would grow to 4.8mn, generating expenditure of RO2,137mn, an increase of 6.9 per cent per annum from 2018 onwards.

Oman Highlights

GDP: Direct contribution The direct contribution of travel and tourism to GDP was RO849.5mn (US$2,209.5mn), 3.2 per cent of total GDP in 2017 and is forecast to rise by six per cent in 2018, and to rise by 5.9 per cent per annum, from 2018-28, to RO1,603.4mn (US$4,170.1mn), 4.3 per cent of the total GDP in 2028.

GDP: Total contribution

The total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP was RO1,774.9mn (US$4,616.2mn), 6.6 per cent of GDP in 2017, and is forecast to rise by 6.3 per cent in 2018, and to rise by 5.9 per cent per annum to RO3,335.5mn (US$8,674.8mn), 8.9 per cent of GDP in 2028.

Employment: Direct contribution

In 2017, travel and tourism directly supported 72,500 jobs (3.4 per cent of total employment). This is expected to rise by 1.5 per cent in 2018 and rise by 2.6 per cent per annum to 95,000 jobs (four per cent of total employment) in 2028.

Visitor exports

Visitor exports, which is spending within the country by international tourists for both business and leisure trips, including spending on transport, generated RO1,034.3mn (US$2,689.9mn), 7.1 per cent of the total exports in 2017. This is forecast to grow by 6.5 per cent in 2018, and grow by 6.9 per cent per annum, from 2018-28, to RO2,137mn (US$5,557.8mn) in 2028, 10.3 per cent of total.

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