Muscat – Oman’s tourism sector has maintained relative stability through the first seven months of 2026 despite regional disruptions, flight interruptions and higher travel costs, with 2.152mn arrivals recorded between January and July.

The figure was marginally below the 2.164mn arrivals recorded during the same period of 2025, a decline of 0.56%, according to data cited by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.

More significantly, arrivals on tourist visas increased 6.9% to 1.308mn, compared to 1.224mn in the corresponding period last year – an increase of nearly 84,000 visitors.

Tourist visa holders accounted for 60.7% of total arrivals during the seven-month period. Visitors from GCC countries represented 36.5%, while cruise passengers accounted for about 2.8%.

However, GCC arrivals declined 7.1%, while cruise arrivals fell 38%, pointing to areas requiring renewed promotional and market-development efforts.

H E Azzan bin Qassim Al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Tourism in the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, said the first seven months demonstrated the sector’s ability to remain stable despite regional and international changes.

“The growth in arrivals holding tourist visas by approximately 7% represents a positive indicator of the effectiveness of promotional efforts and the diversity of target markets,” H E Al Busaidi said.

“The ministry is working with partners to convert growth in arrival numbers into greater economic value, by increasing the length of stay and average spending, connecting the visitor to a greater number of tourism experiences and products in the governorates, and improving the ability of tourism establishments and small and medium enterprises to reach visitors and market and book their products digitally,” he said.

The ministry is also placing greater emphasis on the resilience of the sector, with H E Al Busaidi noting that air connectivity, traveller confidence and market diversification have become central to sustaining growth.

“Regional indicators show that the continuity of air connectivity, the speed of restoring traveller confidence and the diversification of tourism markets are not merely operational factors, but essential elements for protecting the tourism sector and ensuring the sustainability of its growth,” he said.

The focus is expected to intensify in the next phase. The ministry is working to translate tourism targets into executive programmes and measurable performance indicators, covering target-market performance, air connectivity, hotel occupancy, tourism products and experiences, and promotional efficiency.

At the destination level, the ministry is working with governorates, government entities and the private sector to develop sites and new experiences, spread tourism activity geographically and reduce seasonality. Areas of focus include heritage, culture, crafts, creative industries, Omani cuisine, adventure, nature and mountain trails, alongside greater support for SMEs.

The ministry has identified six priorities for strengthening the sector’s ability to withstand future shocks: early crisis containment, rebuilding traveller confidence, maintaining air connectivity, stronger Gulf coordination, greater crisis readiness and diversification of tourism markets.