Muscat – Visitors from UAE are a significant part of the 2.9mn international overnight visitors Oman received in 2022.

Visitors from UAE to Oman increased a whopping 6,000 per cent to 1,357,559 in 2022 compared to 22,322 in 2021, the largest source market for the sultanate.

Visitors from India reached 355,459 in 2022, the second largest source market for Oman, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.

The data includes the top ten source countries for the sultanate, including 81,829 from Germany, 63,570 from Britain, 48,835 from Iran, 44,815 from France, 42,770 from Saudi Arabia, 37,087 from USA, 31,704 from China and 29,986 from Italy.

The ministry confirmed that there are enough indicators to show the recovery of the tourism sector in the sultanate.

It informed that some projects are in an advanced stage of completion, while others are under construction.

Omran Group is implementing several projects and developing public facilities in a number of governorates.

Omran announced the soft opening of a 1,800m dual zip line project in Khasab, Musandam, in February. The project is part of an integrated adventure centre designed to offer tourists unique experiences that combine adventure and exploration.

The Oman Botanic Garden is expected to be ready by the end of 2023, its major attractions including cable cars, besides boasting of unique plants and landscapes.

According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information, 652,000 people visited the sultanate in 2021.The sultanate had welcomed 874,444 visitors in 2020 and 3,506,441 in 2019, which was 8.2 per cent more than the 2018 figure of 3,241,757.

Oman second largest source market for Dubai

Visitors from Oman have contributed significantly in Dubai attracting 14.36mn international overnight visitors in 2022 – 97 per cent more than 2021.

Visitors from Oman to Dubai increased 369 per cent to 1,311,000 in 2022 compared to 280,000 in 2021, becoming the second largest source market for the emirate after India.

Visitors from India recorded a growth of 102 per cent to 1,842,000 from 910,000 in 2021, according to the latest data from Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism.

Oman was followed by Saudi Arabia, the UK and Russia making the top five source markets.