Muscat – Domestic tourism in Oman recorded strong growth in 2025, attracting 15.8mn, up 16.2% from 13.6mn in 2024 and 12.9mn in 2023, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

Domestic tourists recorded 4.7mn nights across the country in 2025, while tourism expenditure rose to RO980mn, compared with RO834mn in 2024, underscoring the sector’s growing contribution to the national economy.

According to NCSI data, 46.8% of domestic tourists travelled for entertainment and recreation, making it the leading purpose of domestic travel, followed by visiting family and friends at 26%.

The hospitality sector comprised 1,063 hotels in 2025, generating RO359mn in revenue, compared to RO293.4mn in 2024. The average hotel occupancy rate stood at 44.2%.

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Oman’s travel and tourism sector is projected to grow more than twice as fast as the overall economy in the next decade, with its contribution to the sultanate’s economy forecast to rise from RO3bn in 2025 to RO4.6bn by 2036,

WTTC forecasts international visitor spending in Oman to rise to RO2.5bn by 2036, representing a CAGR of 7.2% between 2026 and 2036.

Domestic visitor spending is projected to reach RO1.5bn by 2036, growing at a more modest CAGR of 1.6% in the same period.

In 2025, international visitors accounted for 53.8% of the total visitor spending, while domestic visitors accounted for 46.2%.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Ameer Al Balushi, CEO of Al Salam Gate Travel and Tourism, said Oman has a wide range of tourism assets capable of attracting significantly more visitors.

“The country’s diverse tourism potential provides considerable scope to increase visitor numbers in the coming years,” he said, stressing that growth should extend beyond domestic tourism to include a stronger focus on international visitors.

He noted that achieving stronger growth requires greater efforts in several areas, particularly marketing and promoting Omani destinations both domestically and internationally. Greater awareness of the country’s diverse attractions and stronger outreach to new source markets, he said, could help attract more visitors throughout the year.

Al Balushi also stressed the need to further develop tourism infrastructure and services to improve the visitor experience and enhance Oman’s competitiveness as a destination.

He added that investment in new tourism destinations, alongside the development of existing sites, would help distribute tourist activity across the governorates and create more opportunities for local communities to benefit from tourism through small businesses, services and locally produced products.

Al Balushi stressed that tourism growth is not solely about increasing visitor numbers, but also about supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, creating employment opportunities and stimulating related sectors such as transport, hospitality, restaurants, retail and traditional crafts.

Asaad Saud Al Akhzami, Founder and General Manager of Nomad Inn Oman, said the sultanate’s growing domestic tourism market presents significant opportunities for local tourism businesses, particularly those offering nature-based and adventure experiences.

He said the country’s diverse landscapes, from mountains and valleys to deserts and coastal areas, provide a strong foundation for developing tourism products that appeal to both residents and international visitors.

Al Akhzami noted that domestic tourists are increasingly looking for experiences beyond traditional sightseeing, including outdoor activities, adventure trips, camping and stays that allow them to explore Oman’s natural and cultural heritage.

According to Al Akhzami, encouraging more local entrepreneurs to invest in tourism would help diversify the range of experiences available to visitors while creating employment and business opportunities for local communities.

Al Akhzami said greater collaboration between tourism operators, accommodation providers and government authorities could help create more integrated tourism experiences and strengthen Oman’s position as an attractive destination for both domestic and international travellers.