Oman Tourism Conducts Multi-City Roadshow in Mumbai
Mumbai: The Ministry of Tourism, Oman successfully
conducted the second leg of the multi-city roadshow in Mumbai today. The event witnessed around 140 notable companies
of Mumbai’s travel trade in a bid to bridge connections between local travel
agents and destination management companies, hotels and attraction operators in
Oman.
Officials from the Ministry of Tourism, led by
Her Excellency, Maitha Saif Al Mahrouqi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of
Tourism (MOT) Oman along with representative partners from the tourism industry
and Oman Air were present at the roadshow. The unique interactive platform with
prefixed meetings gave trade partners and travel agents in the Indian market an
opportunity to interact and learn more about the diverse product offerings and
experiences that Oman has to offer. The roadshow was well attended and received
a remarkable response from Mumbai.
Oman
offers an authentic Arabian experience coupled with genuine hospitality and
boasts of scenic beauty, rich culture,
historic monuments and a beautiful coastline. The
country has state-of-the-art infrastructure along with beautiful communion of
old world charm and modernism. This makes Oman a preferred destination for travellers
looking for a unique experience. The country’s stunning landscape appeals to
every kind of holiday seeker; from families looking for solitude to a perfect
honeymoon getaway or a group of friends in quest for an adventure of a
lifetime.
Her
Excellency, Maitha Saif Al Mahrouqi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism
(MOT) said, “It gives me immense pleasure to be part of the tourism
roadshow in Mumbai. The objective of the roadshow is to highlight the various
facets of Oman as a destination and to create awareness about the new segments
and offerings that the country has to offer. We see India as a promising potential
market and have witnessed significant growth over a period of time. The Indian traveller
is in a rapid state of evolution and is looking to be engaged in many ways. We
recognise and acknowledge the demand we see from India and other potential
markets. Hence, as part of the Sultanate’s National Tourism Strategy 2040, the
Ministry of Tourism seeks to introduce the sector’s latest developments, services,
projects and facilities of the tourism industry, such as opening the new
passenger terminal at Muscat International Airport and launching the Electronic
Visa. It also aims to promote the Sultanate’s unique cultural heritage, the
pristine environment and terrain diversification that will allow tourists to
experience the destination.”
Since 2014,
Oman has witnessed over 31 per cent growth in Indian arrivals. In 2017 alone,
Oman received 321,161 Indian visitors, showcasing growth of over 7 per cent in
just one year.
Commenting on the roadshow, Ms. Lubaina Sheerazi, India Representative, Ministry of Tourism, Oman
said, “India represents an important and vast market for Oman given the high
percentage of its residents willing to travel and experience new destinations
across the world. The roadshow offers us a platform to expose the uniqueness of
Oman as a holiday destination from India. Being a short journey, the country
offers a diverse landscape and varied activities for the evolved Indian traveller.
From luxurious resorts and campsites to exotic scuba diving spots to rustic shopping
experiences, Oman has something to offer to anyone who has a quest for
adventure and thirst for a distinctive cultural experience.” Additionally, the Ministry of Tourism is fully
committed to enhancing the MICE sector and to help the Sultanate achieve its
potential to be a first-class destination for this segment. The Sultanate has
seen an increase in business tourism with the recent launch of the Oman
Convention and Exhibition Centre in Muscat, which supports international and
local organizations in hosting large events. The Oman Convention and Exhibition
Centre includes state-of-the-art theatres, conference rooms and four hotels
with almost 1000 rooms along with major exhibition halls that can cater to tens
of thousands of people at one time. “Oman is not only seeing a surge in MICE travel but
also a preferred wedding destination for many. Muscat is a well endowed city with
modern infrastructure and provides a perfect set up for weddings with various urban
world class hotels. Being under 3 hours away and having excellent air
connectivity with various cities in India also makes Oman a preferable wedding
destination for Indians. What also works in Oman’s favour is the newness it
brings. It is still a relatively unexplored destination and this also adds
value as Indian clients want to explore new destinations”, adds Ms. Sheerazi.
Oman Air, the national carrier is connected via
direct flights with major Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore,
Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow, Kozhikode, Kochi, Goa, Jaipur and Thiruvananthapuram.
Besides, Air India, Jet Airways, SpiceJet and IndiGo are also well connected
from various cities of India.
Furthermore, to encourage
more travellers to visit the country, Oman has recently announced a new
short-term tourist visa at 5 Omani Riyal (OMR) equivalent to approximately INR
940 to visit the Sultanate for a period of 10 days. Indians who hold a valid
visa to any one of these countries – United States of America, Canada,
Australia, United Kingdom, Japan and Schengen States can avail the Oman visa
through an e-visa process by simply logging on to https://evisa.rop.gov.om/ and make the 5 OMR payment on checkout, whereas other
Indian travellers can get a sponsored visa by paying 5 OMR plus processing fee
through their tour operators. This is in addition to the existing e-visa for
Oman which is available at 20 OMR with a validity of one month. The amendments
include dividing tourist visas into three sections: 10 days, one month and one
year.
Comments
Post a Comment