Muscat – The sultanate, represented by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, celebrated Arab Tourism Day – observed on February 25 annually – on Friday. The celebration this year was themed ‘Towards Sustainable Digital Tourism’.

In light of the challenges faced by the tourism industry worldwide, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, continuous efforts are being made for the recovery of the sector through the use of advanced and technological solutions to face competition from global markets, the ministry stated.

The total number of inbound visitors to Oman in 2021 was 652,000 visitors, with the number of the GCC visitors – 293,125 – being the highest.

The total revenue of hotels – rated 3- to 5-star – was RO102mn. The number of guests in these hotels was over 1.2mn in 2021, according to the latest data issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information.

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism’s interest in digital transformation arises from its efforts to keep pace with modern technologies in the development of the tourism sector, its services, facilities and products. ‘The tourism industry and travel trends are constantly evolving owing to technological innovations,’ the ministry stated.

The ministry has provided an integrated system that allows investors to complete and clear their transactions electronically through its official tourism portal. ‘The site is periodically updated so that it is comprehensive and caters to all requirements and inquiries. Care is also taken to keep the site updated with adequate data and information.’

The ‘Discover Oman’ website is an important addition to promoting and introducing the unique and diverse tourism potential of the sultanate. It informs about offers and promotional campaigns held in cooperation with partners in the sector.