- Direct and indirect contribution of the Sultanate’s tourism sector to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated to exceed six per cent this year, according to a high ranking official of the Ministry of Tourism
- Maitha Bint Saif al Mahrouqiya, Undersecretary, Ministry of Tourism, said tourism accounts for nearly 2.5 per cent of GDP and contributes RO 650 million annually to economic activity as against RO 273 million in 2005, thus achieving an average growth rate of around 11 per cent per year (2005-2014).
By Hasan Kamoonpuri — MUSCAT: August 26: The direct and indirect contribution of the Sultanate’s tourism sector to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated to exceed six per cent this year, according to a high ranking official of the Ministry of Tourism. In comments to Oman Observer recently Maitha Bint Saif al Mahrouqiya, Undersecretary, Ministry of Tourism, said tourism accounts for nearly 2.5 per cent of GDP and contributes RO 650 million annually to economic activity as against RO 273 million in 2005, thus achieving an average growth rate of around 11 per cent per year (2005-2014).
“Oman’s tourism industry has seen considerable development and progress in recent times, which is reflected in the increase in all tourism indicators,†she added.
“Specifically, one of the milestones is related to the implementation of the Integrated Tourism Complexes, namely, The Wave, Salalah Beach Resort and Jabel Al Sifa Resort. These ITCs are in part operational with world class hotels, golf courses, marinas and residential units.
“Another milestone is the establishment of a completely new department which caters for the provision of miscellaneous services and a comprehensive set of information for investors, both domestic and foreign.
The market-based representative offices opened in most tourist markets is yet another milestone in tourism developmentâ€.
The launching of the Oman Tourism Strategy project in mid-2014 is a landmark that provides a roadmap to guide “our efforts on sound scientific and progressive basisâ€, thus reaping the benefits and many opportunities that are now made available through international tourism.
The preparation of the long-term tourism strategy (2016–2040) has entered a very advanced stage and it is scheduled to be unveiled in September this year.
The Sultanate’s tourism sector launched itself into 2015 on a high, fuelled by strong bookings by hotels and resorts and a strong line-up of projects that are currently underway.
The revenues of hotels during 2014 stood at RO 216,526, 000 compared to RO198, 835, 000 in 2013, thus indicating that hotels’ revenues grew by RO 17.7m in 2014, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
The Sultanate’s tourism revenue from international visitors exceeded $1 billion for the first time in 2012, making it one of the top tourism destinations in the Gulf region, according to a report published by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
The tourism undersecretary said there are a number of mega projects that are currently underway such as the Convention Centre, Omagine, Palm Mall and Ras Al Hadd Resort. Omagine and Palm Mall are located in Muscat Governorate (Wilayat As’ Seeb) while Ras Al Hadd Resort is located in South Sharqiyah Governorate.
Source: http://omanobserver.om/tourism-contribution-to-gdp-rises/
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