“The Ministry of Tourism supports all efforts towards enhancing the MICE tourism sector in Oman,” reassured Maitha Saif Al Mahrooqi, undersecretary, Ministry of Tourism, Oman, upon inaugurating the Oman Convention Bureau (OCB) earlier this year.
“In fact, the Oman Tourism Strategy 2040 focusses on MICE as one of the major pillars of the tourism industry in the Sultanate and will depend on it as a secure sustainable resource,” she explained, highlighting the main objective of OCB, which is to promote Oman as an ideal destination for the MICE segment.
Elaborating on the more specific tasks of the new entity was Khalid Al Zidjali, head, OCB.
“We will be working as a specialised team to enhance this sector and regulate the processes, and use various external channels to promote MICE internationally,” said Al Zidjali.
As he went on to explain, the organisation also aims to maintain a healthy atmosphere that supports all institutions and organisations working in the specific field, and it will also market tourism packages to corporate institutions worldwide.
NOVEL OPPORTUNITIES
Over the next couple of years, the country’s MICE credentials will be further boosted with a slew of important developments; from new venues and hotels to infrastructure and transport enhancements.
One such project is the long-awaited Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC), which has recently upped the country’s MICE game with 22,000m2 of flexible, column-free exhibition space, coupled with 10 state-of-the-art hospitality suites.
Upon full completion, the venue will boast a versatile portfolio of theatres, conference rooms, exhibition halls as well as four hotels with nearly 1,000 rooms.
The Muscat region will also be enriched with an impressive collection of accommodation options across two distinct projects, including the 40-key Khiran Resort, which will also offer two chalets; and Jebel Sifah Resort with five hotels, a golf course, a water park, an aquarium, a marina, as well as 1,000 housing units.
The latter had concluded its first phase this year with the launch of Sifawi Boutique Hotel, the marina, 118 apartments and 39 villas, while the rest of the works are scheduled to be completed in 2020, as it had been assessed by Al Mahrooqi during her visit to the sites in late August.
In anticipation of future tourism growth, Muscat International Airport is also undergoing a phased renovation and expansion, ultimately aiming to boost capacity to 48 million passengers per year.
In parallel, major strides are being made by the country’s national carrier, Oman Air, to open up new business opportunities for the sector.
This year, the airline launched flights to Mashhad in Iran, as well as a second-daily direct service to London’s Heathrow Airport, and in April 2017, it plans to spread its wings further in the UK with the inauguration of scheduled flights to Manchester.
With regards to domestic operations, this summer Oman Air added 23,000 new seats on its Salalah route.
However, inter-Oman connectivity is yet to get a major boost as in November a new charter flights operator, Salalah Air, will commence services with plans to offer charter options from bases in Salalah, Sohar and Duqm.
Its first route will connect Salalah and Sohar, and its strategy also envisions developing the Sultanate’s first Flying Club and Adventure Sports Centre.
The project would provide opportunities for aerial sports such as para-motoring and parachuting, as well as for diving, deep-sea fishing and sailing, as it was revealed by Sam Owen, CEO, Salalah Air, during his recent meeting with Al Mahrooqi.
