Major player in tourism sector

Experts find tourism projections tilting in favour of Oman. And this is mainly due to the Sultanate’s potential emphasis on archaeology, conservation, natural beauty and suitable climate. The climate here distinguishes it from its Gulf competitors and it has all the potentials to emerge as a major tourist hub by 2017.

This observation was made by Professor Lindsay W Turner, Head of School of Applied Economics, Victoria University, Australia, in his research paper titled ‘Oman tourism: An international perspective on international tourist arrivals.’ Professor Lindsay has forecast huge growth in arrival of foreign (non-Gulf country) tourists in Oman from 2012 onwards. The forecast suggests arrival of 1,158,412 foreign (non-Gulf country) in 2012; 1,352,644 in 2013; 1,526,270 in 2014; 1,716,210 in 2015 and 1,886, 388 in 2016.

Making a comparison between major tourist destinations and Oman, Professor Lindsay has examined the Oman tourism potential in the perspective of other developments world-wide.
The assumption is made that Oman is closer regionally in terms of cultural identity and social structures to the broad Asia Pacific world region. “In examining the countries of Asia Pacific, similarities can be identified with several other markets.

The conclusion is that for the development of demand for foreign international tourism, it is useful to place the Oman market into a world perspective, and from this position to identify future market size, sustainability and marketing,” stated Professor Lindsay in the abstract of his research paper.

Though 2008 and 2009 were worst years in terms of movement of tourists worldwide, “in 2007 Oman received 515,808 foreign (non-Gulf country) tourists, an increase of 20.37 per cent from 2006 and foreign exchange earnings increased by 32.8 per cent over 2006.

This makes Oman a small tourism destination on the world scale, also one that is growing rapidly and there are expectations of strong growth in the near future,” Professor Lindsay mentioned while discussing Oman’s future in tourism sector.

Elaborating further, Professor Lindsay said in his research paper: “Oman is now facing important cross-roads in economic and social development, and needs to determine the path ahead in regard to the level of international tourism development.

“There is no doubt that international tourism is a major earner of direct foreign exchange and at the same time is a labour intensive activity. Tourism is also not an industry in itself, but does involve the full range of domestic industries and hence has high trickle down economic impact.”

Given the current ‘take-off’ position in economic development for tourist arrivals to Oman, a first point is to set targets that are realistic, sustainable and bring the type of tourism market that Oman decides to develop as a community.

In determining these issues, a major first step is to attempt to forecast arrivals under current conditions and to set realistic targets, observed Professor Lindsay.

Source - omanobserver.om