Fever pitch: World Cup wave to buoy Oman tourism

Strategic partnership deals have been designed to entice football fans to also visit Qatar’s GCC neighbour.

Oman is rolling out the red carpet for tourists arriving in Qatar for the FIFA World Cup this November.

Arguably, the world’s most widely watched sporting event, as many as 200,000 visitors are expected to come to Qatar to watch the football tournament.

Oman has announced free multiple-entry 60-day visas to holders of the Hayya card issued by Qatar to football fans attending the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Hayya card is also considered a mandatory permit to enter the World Cup stadiums for all visitors, citizens and residents of Qatar, from 1 November to 23 December 2022.

In September, Oman and Qatar also agreed to launch daily flights between Muscat and Doha, while also developing programmes for airport and transportation facilities, a separate scheme for hotel and tourist packages, an array of events and activities, as well as accompanying promotional campaigns.

Tourism products offered within the programme exceed 20,000 hotel rooms and more than 200 tourism products through 35 local operators and 10 land transport companies. A number of companies struck partnerships with 52 airlines from around the world, which operate flights to Oman.

The programme will include events and activities, most notably the World Cup Fans Festival, which will be held in the gardens of Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre on an area of more than 9,000 square metres. This event aims to provide a festive atmosphere for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. An official site for the Fan Village will also be launched.

TOURISM BOOST

Taking advantage of these high-profile events are part of the Sultanate’s efforts to boost the tourism sector, which is expected to represent around 5% of GDP by 2030. 

The sector’s contribution to GDP is seen rising to about 10% by 2040. Its direct and indirect added value amounted to OMR 1.3 billion at the end of 2019 with a direct value of OMR 718 million, compared to OMR 700 million in 2018.

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is working with Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran), the state-owned tourism investment, development and management group, to identify opportunities and projects that will increase the sector’s potential, as the value of investment opportunities in the tourism sector during the next 20 years will reach OMR 15 billion.

In October, Omran Group signed a memorandum of collaboration (MoC) with OQ Group to collaborate on research, training, exchange of expertise and knowledge, and human resource development initiatives. The deal will also explore various initiatives aimed at encouraging sustainable practices, and empowering SMEs in the tourism sector.

IMPROVING FIGURES

Latest available data from the National Centre for Statistics & Information (NCSI) notes that total occupancy rate in Omani hotels in August was 43.5%, compared to 38.4% during the same period last year.

The total number of guests in hotels during the month rose to 136,000, a 7.1% increase compared to August 2021. Meanwhile revenues generated during the month by the hotel sector rose 52.4% to OMR 13 million. GCC nationals led the tourist numbers, with around 245,000, followed by other Arabs (29,417), and citizens from Asian countries (56,695), and European countries (12,097).

By the end of August, 1.8 million tourists had visited Oman, generating OMR 108 million in hotel revenues.

ONEWORLD MEMBERSHIP

Earlier in the year, Oman Air expanded its network when it was elected as a oneworld member designate by the oneworld Governing Board. Joining oneworld, a global airline alliance group, will pave the way for additional codeshare opportunities, further enhancing global connectivity across the alliance’s network.

Oman Air is expected to be implemented into the oneworld programme in 2024, following which it will provide the full range of oneworld benefits to customers travelling on its flights. Members of Oman Air’s Sindbad frequent flyer programme will be able to earn and redeem miles on all oneworld member airlines, with top tier members receiving additional benefits including lounge access when travelling with other oneworld members.

“Oman Air’s entry into oneworld will provide even more flights and destinations to customers planning global travel across the alliance’s members, making oneworld the only global airline alliance with three members in the Middle East after Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian,” according to the airline.

Oman Air’s joining will add new destinations to the oneworld network including Duqm and Khasab in Oman and Chittagong (Bangladesh). oneworld Emerald, oneworld Sapphire and premium cabin customers will also gain access to three Oman Air lounges at Muscat, Salalah, and Bangkok.

Oman Air already operates in five oneworld member airline hubs – Amman, Colombo, Doha, Kuala Lumpur, and London Heathrow – and has codeshare agreements with four oneworld member airlines, such as Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, and SriLankan Airlines.