Oman increase hospitality portfolio by additional 2,000 rooms in 2012-13
Contributors are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the contributor directly
Oman’s resort and hotel portfolio continues to expand with over 2,000 additional rooms scheduled for opening in 2012/ 2013. Muscat witnesses most growth with the addition of 726 rooms, while niche resorts are set to open in Salalah, Khasab and in Hajar Mountains. Duqm will witness the opening of three hotels with a total of 391 rooms. The portfolio sees continued strengthening and diversification of Muscat’s room supply, and also increasing focus on regional projects from Khasab in the north to Oman’s southern gateway, Salalah.
HE Maitha Al Mahrouqi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism said: “Oman is seeing strong investor demand in the sector, especially in niche properties. This is from government sponsored joint ventures through OMRAN and increasing Omani participation. This approach gives us a competitive edge and fuels investment demand.”
The pattern of investment shows significant investment commitment in regional areas including Oman’s Duqm where three hotels will come online as well as in Hajar Mountains region where both government and private sector investment is on the rise.
Oman’s entry into the global business and meetings market will accelerate with the opening of the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) from 2015. The OCEC project comprises a 3,000 seat plenary hall, exhibition space, business centre and four hotels totaling 1,000 rooms. Several new hotel openings are also scheduled at The Wave and the InterContinental Hotel site.