Oman’s tourism sector reported significant year-on-year declines in June, with visitor numbers and revenues falling.
According to the latest Tourism Index Report – June 2016, published by the country’s National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), there was a 19% decline in overall visitor numbers in the month, while hotel revenues fell 36%.
The number of cruise passengers disembarking in Muscat – a popular cruise destination – was down to 2,200; a significant 73% compared to May, which saw 6,600 passengers visit the city.
In an interview with the Times of Oman, Ahmed Al Hooti, board member at the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) said the decline was natural in an economic downturn.
“There is no doubt that the instability in the Middle East can have an effect on (European) tourists because even if they come here, they would have it in their mind that we are part of that group,” said Al Hooti.
“Economic difficulties are also a factor. There hasn’t been a day where someone doesn’t have financial difficulties. Today GCC tourists are the closest to us. If we are able to persuade them with marketing campaigns and advertisements as well as provide them with the services that they need, then that would be a great thing for us.”
During the first half of 2016, 658,793 guests checked in to 3-5 star hotels with total revenues amounting to OMR88,635,000, according to the report. June hotel revenues amounted to OMR6,281,000.
Oman attracted more than 1.2 million visitors in total during the first half of 2016.
The GCC accounted for the majority of this figure, with 416,339 visitors, followed by India with 135,349. There were 91,919 visitors from the UK, while Germany rounded out the top four (81,584).
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