Oman tourism soars on regional upheaval

Ahram Online, Sunday 4 Dec 2011

Sultanate is seeing 50 per cent more visitors during peak season as tourists bypass Egypt, Tunisia and Syria

Oman sunset
Another Omani sunset - but the Sultanate's booming peak season is just beginning (Photo: Reuters)

Oman has received a record foreign number of tourists during its peak holiday season, as the Sultanante's hospitality industry benefits from upheaval across the rest of the Arab world.

A survey of hotels and tour guides cited by the local Times of Oman newspaper shows they are receiving 50 per cent more visitors month-on-month compared with the previous year. 
 
Most tourists came from Europe, Japan and Australia, and chose Oman over more typical regional choices such as Tunisia, Egypt and Syria, all of which have seen popular uprisings this year.
 
Several Omani tourism operators point out that beach areas have been overbooked, and there is a need to further develop their facilities.
 
“We should be thankful that Oman’s five-month protests did not damage its reputation as a major tourist destination of the Gulf country. Visitors consider Oman as the safest Arab country to visit and we are benefiting in a big way at the moment,” tour organiser Khalaf Al Jadidi told the Times.
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