The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has said that 94 facilities joined Oman’s hospitality sector last year.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, an official in MoT, said, “Muscat got the largest share of hospitality sector facilities at 30 including two five-star hotels, four four-star, four three-star, two two-star, five one-star, 12 hotel apartments and one guest house, followed by Dakhliyah with 17 facilities including one three-star, one two-star, eight guest houses, three green hostels, two heritage hostels, one luxury tourist camp and one motel.”

The official said that 13 facilities also came up in South Batinah which includes one two-star hotel, three one-star hotels, four green hostels, three guest houses, one hotel apartment and one motel.

“In South Sharqiyah, 13 establishments came up including nine guest houses, one green hostel, one three-star and one one-star hotel and one tourist camp while seven facilities came up in North Sharqiyah. These included two green hostels, two two-star and one one-star hotels, one luxury tourist camp and one tourist camp.”

He added that four facilities came up in Buraimi too comprising one four-star hotel and three hotel apartments. “Dhofar saw three facilities joining the sector including one four-star and two three-star hotels; Dhahirah had three new green hostels, North Batinah had one three-star hotel and one hotel apartment, Al Wusta one motel and Musandam one one-star hotel.”

The official said that the ministry always ensures a balance between demand and supply of each category hotel in the market.

According to the ministry, there were 412 hotel establishments and 22,182 hotel rooms in Oman, until the end of 2018.

Statistics released by MoT show that it is aiming to add 2,159 rooms in 2020. It is expecting to add 1,581 rooms in the hotel sector, 349 rooms in hotel apartments, 95 rooms in green hostels, 92 rooms in motel  and 42 rooms in guest houses.