The Sultanate of Oman is rolling out a number of substantial tourism infrastructure developments worth billions, presenting strong growth opportunities for the destination’s hotel industry.
Muscat International Airport: Phase one of the airport’s expansion will boost capacity to 12 million passengers annually, increasing four-fold to 48 million when phase three is completed. Enhancements include a new $1.8 billion passenger terminal complex and a second runway capable of handling the A380.
Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC): Due to open in late 2016, the OCEC’s highlights include two tiered-seat auditoria seating 3,200 and 450 respectively plus 22,000 square metres of column-free exhibition space over five halls. There will be 1,000 hotel rooms tool. It’s estimated contribution to Oman’s GDP by 2030 is $623 million (Booz & Co.)
The Wave Muscat: Four hotels and a retail development are currently under development.
Jebel Sifah: This 6.2 million-square-metre development will include an 18-hole PGA golf course, 84-berth marina and marina town, six five-star hotels and a marina boutique hotel.
City Walk Muscat: Located in the capital’s CBD, this development will feature five-star hotels, retail outlets, cafes and restaurants.
Majarat Oman: Oman’s biggest indoor theme park, located at Al Sawadi Beach Resort, will be completed by 2017. Built to the tune of $120 million it will cater to up to 3,000 visitors daily.
SOHAR
Sohar Airport: Flights commenced last year but the passenger terminal is still under construction. It will be able to accommodate half a million passengers annually when completed.
SALALAH
New Salalah International Airport: The new terminal opened on June 15 and the airport already has capacity for one million passengers annually. The on-going phased development project, being executed over three stages, will ramp up annual capacity to two, four and six million passengers respectively.
Salalah Beach: A new development covering 15.6 million square metres that will offer two 18-hole PGA golf courses, a 200-berth marina and marina town, five five-star hotels and smaller boutique properties.
As Sodah Island: This eco-friendly resort by Muriya will include the upscale boutique property Maisons Cheval Blanc with 32 chalets. It will be operated by the LVHM Hotel Management, an entity of the Moёt Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) group.
2015 SNAPSHOT
- New hotels from brands including Kempinski, Four Seasons, Centara Hotels & Resorts, Shaza, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and The W;
- 20,000 hotel rooms planned for Oman by the end of the year;
- New projects due to open this year include Avenues Mall, the National Museum of Oman, the Mall of Oman, Saraya Bandar Jissah, Panorama Mall and Palm Mall.
(Source: Oman Ministry of Tourism)
TOURISM DATA
2015
1.14 million tourism arrivals are forecast, up 3% on 2014. Tourism receipts are set to hit the US$2.24 billion mark, up 5% year on year.
2023
Oman is targeting 3.2 million tourism arrivals
Airport arrivals
Almost nine million passengers passed through Muscat International in 2014, up 6% on the 8.5 million reported in 2013.
Source: Oman Ministry of Tourism and Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC)
