Tag Archives: Oman tourism

Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) and Alizz Islamic Bank  announced the signing of a collaboration agreement to establish a strategic financial partnership with a synergetic objective to reinforce Oman’s tourism and economic sectors through this strategic endeavour.  Development for Commercial Building No. 1 in the Business Park at Madinat Al Irfan (East). OMRAN Group, the master developer of the project, reiterated its commitment to developing the Business Park to become a vibrant destination for business and innovation, hosting the headquarters of various institutions. Dr. Hashil Al Mahrouqi, the CEO of OMRAN Group, and Ali Al Mani the CEO of Alizz Islamic Bank, delivered speeches, highlighting the synergetic objectives to reinforce Oman’s tourism and economic sectors through this strategic endeavour. Dr. Al Mahrouqi articulated, “This collaboration with Alizz Islamic Bank is a stride towards realising our vision at OMRAN Group – to transform landscapes into vibrant, sustainable environments contributing significantly to Oman’s social, economic, and environmental prosperity. The Group has a rich record of leading tourism projects and assets, and is working to stimulate investment by building strategic partnerships with investors to contribute to the creation of sustainable social and economic benefits.” Emphasising the impact of the partnership, the CEO of Alizz Islamic Bank, Ali Al Mani, remarked, “Aligning with our dedication to support projects of substantial national value, this alliance with OMRAN Group represents a crucial milestone in our journey towards contributing to Oman’s flourishing future, rooted in innovation and sustainability.”   The event, attended by industry leaders, investors, and media representatives, underscored the partnership’s shared objectives: to highlight the development’s uniqueness, elevate awareness around the Business Park, and attract investors for the enhancement of the master plan of …

It has been announced that Oman is gearing up to open the country’s largest zoo, located in Ibra, north Sharqiyah on the second day of Eid Al Fitr. Safari World will showcase a diverse collection of over 300 animals across 120,000 square meters of the zoo’s total 286,000 square meter area. Apart from the animal exhibits, Safari World will also offer entertainment with its water park and family activity areas. It will also aim to raise awareness about wildlife conservation, especially among school children. In the second phase within the next few years, Safari World is set to expand its offerings to introduce more exotic species and enhance attractions with a key goal to solidify Oman’s position as a top tourism destination.

DidaTravel signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enter into a strategic partnership with Visit Oman – the National Travel Operator – to promote the country to DidaTravel’s network of 25,000+ travel trade partners in China. The MOU outlines potential areas of collaboration between DidaTravel and Visit Oman, which include DidaTravel offering Visit Oman’s varied portfolio of contracted properties, transfers, and experiences to their extensive B2B network through API integration. As a result of this agreement Visit Oman will also be able to access DidaTravel’s consolidated portfolio of high value, yet hard to reach, Chinese travel trade customers. The two companies will embark on joint marketing initiatives to increase brand awareness and drive travel demand from China to Oman. Jinyan Li, VP Global Account Management at DidaTravel commented “We are thrilled to partner with Visit Oman and leverage our B2B distribution network to introduce the beauty and cultural richness of Oman to our extensive network of travel partners in China. This collaboration holds immense potential to foster cultural exchange and strengthen ties between our nations”.

Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group), in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, and its subsidiaries, Visit Oman and Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC),  announced the launch of MASARAT 2.0. This ground-breaking initiative, falling under the umbrella of the #IAmTourism strategy, marking a significant stride towards Oman’s Vision 2040 for youth empowerment. MASARAT 2.0, an expansion of the successful inaugural MASARAT programme launched last year. marking a significant step forward, the program boasts an expanded network of participating entities, solidifying the group’s unwavering commitment to fostering young talent and equipping them with the skills they need to thrive in the tourism industry. Said Al Manji , head of initiatives and projects section at Ministry of Labour emphasised, “The MASARAT 2.0 programme is a prime example of effective public-private partnerships. It aligns seamlessly with the Ministry’s goals to create sustainable employment opportunities for Omani youth, thereby contributing to our nation’s long-term economic prosperity.” Wiam Al Marhubi, Human Capital Generalist at OMRAN Group, commented, “Through MASARAT 2.0, we are not just offering jobs; we are crafting careers. We are equipping our talented youth with the necessary skills to excel and lead in the tourism sector, as well as broadening its horizons. OCEC’s CEO, Eng. Said Al Shanfari, remarked, “Integrating fresh perspectives and innovative ideas from the youth is vital for our growth. MASARAT 2.0 provides us with an opportunity to bring in fresh talent who will drive the future of the MICE industry in Oman.” Shabib Al Mamaari, Managing Director of Visit Oman, added, “Our participation in MASARAT 2.0 reflects our commitment to the future of tourism in Oman. By fostering fresh talent, we ensure the continued growth and prosperity of …

It was announced that Oman had exceeded the set target of 2.5million tourists by end of 2023 and went on to receive 2.9million tourists by end of October 2023. According to the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism Oman has achieved high indicators in the goals of Oman 2040 vision. While the target was to reach 33,000 hotel rooms by the end of 2025, the Ministry’s statistics indicate that the achieved indicator stood at 32,371 by the end of September 2023. This was revealed by Oman News Agency. The target percentage of tourism sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) at constant prices for the year 2025, set at 2.75 percent, was almost accomplished in 2022, when GDP at constant prices for that year stood at about 2.4 percent. The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is embarked on utilizing statistical figures in a systematic manner to produce indicators that both support tourism decision-making and realize the sector’s goals in Oman Vision 2040.

As part of the #IAmTourism strategy, Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) has announced the launch of the ‘GIFTed’ initiative. This initiative is dedicated to qualifying and empowering individuals with disabilities to work within the tourism sector.‘GIFTed’ stands as the premier initiative focused on supporting individuals with disabilities in the tourism industry, fostering their abilities, and creating pathways to acquire practical skills and explore diverse employment opportunities. The initiative strives to achieve several main objectives, including raising awareness of the capabilities of individuals with disabilities in the tourism sector, enabling participants through specialised training for the labour market, and promoting social integration by emphasising the vital role individuals with disabilities play in the community. The launch event was hosted at Naseem dusitD2 Resort, Al Jabal Al Akhdar, under the patronage of Her Highness Sayyida Hujaija bint Jaifar Al Said and attended by key figures from OMRAN Group and the Al Wafa Centre for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities in Al Jabal Al Akhdar. On the occasion of the launch, Hilal bin Masoud Al Jadidi, Chief Human Capital Officer at OMRAN Group, stated: “The ‘GIFTed’ initiative is a key component of our #IAmTourism strategy, serving as a roadmap towards empowering national talent to succeed in this opportunity-rich sector. The initiative embodies our deep belief in enhancing professional avenues for people with disabilities due to the talents and capabilities they possess. We aim to utilise the outcomes of this initiative as a model for application across our assets and future projects.” Jagdeep Thakral, General Manager of Naseem dusitD2 Resort Al Jabal Al Akhdar, remarked: “We are proud that our resort is the launching point for this significant initiative. Throughout the six-month …

Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) has partnered with the Global Travel and Tourism Partnership (GTTP) through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This significant partnership will initiate the launch of extracurricular programmes and activities specifically designed for 10th and 11th grade students as a part of the Group’s #IAmTourism Strategy. This groundbreaking agreement enables GTTP to offer an extensive curriculum of educational content in the field of travel and tourism through its e-learning platform, spanning a three-year period. The pilot phase is set to benefit over 100 students from select schools across the Sultanate of Oman. Furthermore, a team of career guidance experts will receive training on leveraging the platform to provide an immersive and fruitful learning journey for aspiring tourism professionals. The MoU was inked by Dr. Hashil bin Obaid Al Mahrouqi, CEO of OMRAN Group, and Michel Taride, Chair of GTTP Advisory Board. The ceremony was graced by HE Azzan bin Qassim Al Busaidi, Chairman of OMRAN Group, along with officials from the Ministry of Education. Dr. Hashil bin Obaid Al Mahrouqi, CEO of OMRAN Group expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This collaboration marks a pivotal moment in shaping national competencies that will underpin the growth of our vital tourism sector. It is perfectly aligned with our National Tourism Strategy, which places a strong emphasis on tourism education and training to bolster Oman’s standing in the competitive global tourism landscape.” Echoing his sentiments, Ms. Anne Lotter, CEO of the Global Travel and Tourism Partnership (GTTP), remarked, “Our alliance with OMRAN Group is a testament to our commitment to cultivating a deeper understanding of Oman’s rich tourism offerings. Through our specialized programs, we aim to carve out new professional …

Oman News Agency shared that the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism organized a workshop on Global Distribution Systems (GDS) for reservations. The opening of the workshop was held under the patronage of Azzan Qassim Ali Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism. The workshop aims to propel the tourism industry in the Sultanate of Oman towards new horizons by increasing bookings in Omani hotels and enabling tourism establishments to leverage these systems in attracting a larger number of visitors to their facilities. GDS systems are central booking platforms that provide travel agents from various countries with real-time access to tourism services, such as flight and hotel rates, car rentals, and other essential traveler products. These systems serve as a crucial link between travel service providers (hotels) and reservation sources (travel agents), allowing them to efficiently manage bookings and distribute their offerings on a global scale. This workshop is part of the implementation of several initiatives and programmes aimed at promoting the Sultanate of Oman as a tourist destination while ensuring a prosperous future for the hotel sector in the country. The event brought together numerous hotel establishments in the Sultanate of Oman, with the presence of two major providers of Global Distribution Systems (GDS) services: Travelport and Amadeus. Representatives of these platforms had a unique opportunity to present their innovative solutions by facilitating direct communication between service providers and the hospitality sector in Oman across its various categories. The Ministry seeks to enhance Oman’s presence in the global tourism market and boost revenue flows in line with the Omani tourism strategy and comprehensive tourism development plan. In this regard, Haitham Al Ghassani, Director General of Tourism …

The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MOHT), hosted the largest Global Travel Week Middle East this week with the participation of 200 professionals in the field of luxury tourism from around the world, along with 40 local Omani tourism industry key players. It was two days of networking opportunities to connect with the luxury exhibitors across the globe in the Sultanate of Oman. Asma bint Salem Al Hajriya, Deputy Director General for Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in the Sultanate of Oman said in her closing remarks stated, “On behalf of my country, the Sultanate of Oman, and on behalf of my entire team of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, we are all delighted to welcome you here today – we hope you have a very enjoyable time and are excited to learn more about our beautiful country. Oman is a blessed country with a diverse landscape, nature, heritage and history and of course, without forgetting the most aspect of its people, the most renowned friendliest and hospitable people of Oman are the assets of this country. With all these components, Oman delivers a unique luxury travel experience.” She further reiterated, “striking the perfect balance between international outlook and traditional atmosphere, our deep culture and heritage combined with world-class hotels and authentic Arabian experiences, means that we are very well placed to make the most of the growing interest in visiting our region. Events like today are an invaluable opportunity for you to connect with our stakeholders, and I hope that as we end this two day event you had fruitful meetings and good knowledge of what Oman offers …

Oman Air, the national airline of the Sultanate of Oman, has inked an agreement with Omantel, a leading telecom operator, to provide passengers flying to Oman with Tourist SIM Cards on board their flight. The one-year partnership aims to offer guests a hassle-free and efficient digital solution that enriches their travel experience, as well as attracting more tourists to come to Oman. Abdul Rahman Nasser, Chief Commercial Officer at Oman Air, said, “We are delighted to once again join hands with Omantel, and we will all benefit from the spillover effect of this great buzz happening around the region. I am confident that our year-long partnership will be a success, and it will bring convenience to our passengers and save them time and effort upon arrival.” Eng. Aladdin Baitfadhil, Chief Commercial Officer at Omantel, said, “We are thrilled about our partnership with Omar Air, and we are all set to provide passengers flying to the Sultanate of Oman with seamless and hassle-free connectivity even before landing, while we increase our customer base.” The two companies also have another partnership involving their respective loyalty programmes, enabling Omantel’s customers to convert their Makasib points to Sindbad Miles. With a growing number of partners, Oman Air continues to find new and innovative ways to elevate its guest experience and build on its reputation as an award-winning airline, while promoting Oman as a must-visit destination.