Oman targets quality-led tourism growth after record Indian arrivals.
Yousuf Khalaf Al Mujaizi, Assistant Director of Business Development, Tourism Promotion Directorate, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, said an authentic, differentiated, and long-term destination proposition builds resilience.
Quality over quantity
He said, “Oman has never been positioned simply as another volume tourism destination. The quality and diversity of its mountains, wadis, coastline, heritage, culture, adventure, and hospitality make it strong.”
“People want to come back from a holiday having experienced something, not just visiting,” Al Mujaizi added. Here, Oman’s unhurried journey, tranquil luxury, and quality moments make sense.
Oman aims to become a high-quality, sustainable, and experience-led destination with global appeal in the next five years.
Incoming numbers are not the only indicator of Oman’s growth. Quality of visitor experience, length of stay, geographic spread, and value to local communities and companies are also considered.
Between January and June 2026, Oman welcomed 381,305 Indian visitors, Al Mujaizi said. Oman wants to turn that attention into long-term preference.
“We want travellers to see Oman not simply as an accessible Gulf destination, but as a place with a distinct personality, where they can discover landscapes, heritage, and experiences at their own pace,” Al Mujaizi stated
India is key to this method
Al Mujaizi called India a deep market with several destinations to choose from. Thus, the opportunity is to raise awareness of Oman and increase consumer and travel trade confidence that influences their selections.
The growth of Oman gives it a solid base. Oman saw 81,797 Indian visitors in May, the most in decades, and robust numbers in the first half of 2026. Al Mujaizi said this momentum shows growing interest in the destination and the necessity of market consistency.
Beyond the short-break idea
The destination is trying to change the notion of Oman as a short-break or stopover destination to include leisure, luxury, adventure, nature, culture, wellness, and seasonal events like Salalah’s Khareef. Travel experts are trusted by Indian consumers, especially for international trips, Al Mujaizi added.
Oman also thinks pricing should be based on value, not cost. “The goal is to offer travellers experiences that justify the journey and create value through quality and variety,” Al Mujaizi added.
India wants to generate sustainable demand and stronger advocacy for Oman’s unique experiences, not just recoup or grow traffic.
Oman wants a GCC identity.
Oman sees GCC tourist ecosystem integration as promising. Al Mujaizi noted that the region has great connection, geographic proximity, and a developing worldwide tourism profile. Regional cooperation and shared aviation linkages can boost the GCC’s global tourism profile, and Oman is open to constructive partnership.
Meanwhile, the Sultanate believes the next phase of tourist growth will be characterised by destination strength and clarity. Our strategy is fully focused on building Oman as a distinct destination with its own character, experiences and reasons to travel’, Al Mujaizi added. The destination sees great potential in letting international tourists discover Oman on its own terms rather than as an extension of another destination or part of a multi-country journey.
Oman sees regional developments as a chance to boost the tourism environment while maintaining its individuality. Oman’s strategic goal is to have travellers link the nation with nature, heritage, adventure, authenticity, calm, and quality of experience.
