{"id":6571,"date":"2025-11-22T15:33:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-22T11:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/news\/economy\/oman-heritage-tourism-growth-drive\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T01:47:29","modified_gmt":"2025-11-22T21:47:29","slug":"oman-heritage-tourism-growth-drive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/news\/economy\/oman-heritage-tourism-growth-drive\/","title":{"rendered":"Tourism and Heritage Boost Oman&#8217;s Non-Oil Growth: Key Opportunities for Investors and Entrepreneurs"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-fadein{from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(14px)}to{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-slideup{from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(20px)}to{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-pulse{0%,100%{box-shadow:0 0 14px #dc262688}50%{box-shadow:0 0 32px #dc2626,0 0 60px #dc262655}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-shimmer{0%,100%{opacity:0.3;transform:scaleX(0.4)}50%{opacity:1;transform:scaleX(1)}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-glow{0%,100%{opacity:0.6}50%{opacity:1}}\r\n@keyframes hitv3sog-badge{from{opacity:0;transform:scale(0.8)}to{opacity:1;transform:scale(1)}}\r\n<\/style><style>\r\n.hitv3sogw{container-type:inline-size;width:100%;max-width:970px;margin:0 auto;box-sizing:border-box}\r\n.hitv3soga{display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;text-decoration:none;color:#fff;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,system-ui,sans-serif;position:relative;overflow:hidden;cursor:pointer;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#111118 0%,#080808 100%);border:1.5px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.08);border-radius:14px;gap:20px;padding:20px 40px;transition:border-color .2s}\r\n.hitv3soga:hover{border-color:#dc262688}\r\n.hitv3sogg1{position:absolute;inset:0;background:radial-gradient(ellipse at 50% 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solid rgba(255,255,255,0.18);backdrop-filter:blur(8px);-webkit-backdrop-filter:blur(8px);border-radius:20px;padding:3px 10px 3px 7px;margin-bottom:clamp(5px,0.6vw,9px);animation:hitv3sog-badge 0.5s ease both;\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:6px;height:6px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size:clamp(8px,0.9vw,10px);font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.07em;color:rgba(255,255,255,0.88);text-transform:uppercase;white-space:nowrap;\">EXCLUSIVE OMAN OFFER<\/span><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitv3sogh\" style=\"animation:hitv3sog-slideup 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0.15s;\">Websites For <span style=\"color:#dc2626;\">Omani Businesses.<\/span><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitv3sogs\" style=\"animation:hitv3sog-slideup 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0.3s;\">Empower your brand with custom digital solutions designed for high conversion and market dominance.<\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitv3sogbl\"><div class=\"hitv3sogbi\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:5px;height:5px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:7px;\"><\/span><span>Responsive designs built for growth<\/span><\/div><div class=\"hitv3sogbi\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:5px;height:5px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:7px;\"><\/span><span>Fast loading with smart automation<\/span><\/div><\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <div class=\"hitv3sogct\">\r\n    <button class=\"hitv3sogbtn\" style=\"animation:hitv3sog-pulse 2.5s ease-in-out infinite;animation-delay:1s;\">Build Your Free Website <span style=\"opacity:.9;\">\u2192<\/span><\/button>\r\n    <div class=\"hitv3sogbr\">hit.land<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/a>\r\n<\/div>\n<p>MUSCAT: Oman\u2019s heritage and tourism sectors have demonstrated robust performance during the first nine months of 2025, highlighting their expanding contribution to the country\u2019s economic diversification and enhancing Oman\u2019s standing as a sustainable cultural and tourism destination that harmoniously combines tradition with modern development.<\/p>\n<p>The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism reported that the tourism sector\u2019s direct added value reached RO 873 million, with the total tourism output rising to RO 1.99 billion. The sector now accounts for 2.7 percent of Oman\u2019s GDP, emphasizing its growing significance within the non-oil economy. Government revenues linked to the Ministry\u2019s activities amounted to RO 13.55 million by the end of September, reflecting improved financial outcomes and increased demand for tourism services.<\/p>\n<p>Hotel revenues increased by 6.1 percent to RO 293.4 million, driven by higher occupancy rates and an expanded array of tourism programmes. By the close of the third quarter, Oman had welcomed 2.83 million international visitors\u2014a slight decrease compared to the previous year\u2014while domestic tourism surged to 13.6 million visits, bolstered by festivals, events, and seasonal activities. Hotel guest numbers grew by 4.6 percent to 4.6 million, underlining sustained confidence in Oman\u2019s tourism sector.<\/p>\n<p>As part of its global promotional strategy, the Ministry expanded its international representative network by opening new offices in China, Russia, and Spain, with additional offices planned in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. These 11 offices operate campaigns across 25 countries and have generated over RO 30 million in direct returns. Oman also participated in more than 20 international exhibitions, earning accolades for pavilion designs that creatively blend heritage with modern digital elements. A collaborative promotional campaign with CNN further boosted Oman\u2019s global visibility.<\/p>\n<p>In the cruise and charter tourism sector, the Ministry progressed initiatives from its sectoral study aimed at improving port infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. Charter flights for the 2024\u20132025 season rose from 466 to 588, drawing 93,000 tourists and generating an estimated $80 million in economic returns. Moreover, 30 local tourism events held in partnership with various organizations contributed RO 4 million to the economy.<\/p>\n<p>Hotel infrastructure expanded further, with the number of establishments reaching 1,309 and hotel rooms increasing by 7.9 percent to 38,000. Overall occupancy rates remained stable, achieving 52.6 percent in three- to five-star hotels. The Ministry issued 383 preliminary approvals for new accommodation projects, with 114 developments currently underway, expected to open between 2025 and 2027. Investments in integrated tourism complexes have now surpassed RO 11.5 billion.<\/p>\n<p>From January to September, the Ministry signed 36 concession agreements valued at RO 100 million for new tourism ventures. Employment in the tourism sector reached 169,800, with Omanisation increasing to 10.9 percent.<\/p>\n<p>In the heritage sector, Oman continues to preserve its cultural heritage with 3,655 registered historical and archaeological sites, 1,328 of which have been restored. Efforts are ongoing to prepare the World Heritage nomination dossier for the archaeological sites of Bisya and Salut.<\/p>\n<p>Regionally, Oman recorded strong hotel occupancy rates in September 2025, with Muscat at 66.7 percent and Salalah at 56.7 percent. Oman\u2019s natural landscapes, tranquil environment, and diverse tourism offerings\u2014including adventure, heritage, and ecotourism\u2014continue to enhance its competitiveness in both Gulf and international markets. \u2014 ONA<\/p>\n<p><style>\r\n@keyframes hitl8gak-fadein{from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(14px)}to{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}}\r\n@keyframes hitl8gak-slideup{from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(20px)}to{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}}\r\n@keyframes hitl8gak-pulse{0%,100%{box-shadow:0 0 14px #dc262688}50%{box-shadow:0 0 32px #dc2626,0 0 60px #dc262655}}\r\n@keyframes hitl8gak-shimmer{0%,100%{opacity:0.3;transform:scaleX(0.4)}50%{opacity:1;transform:scaleX(1)}}\r\n@keyframes hitl8gak-glow{0%,100%{opacity:0.6}50%{opacity:1}}\r\n@keyframes hitl8gak-badge{from{opacity:0;transform:scale(0.8)}to{opacity:1;transform:scale(1)}}\r\n<\/style><style>\r\n.hitl8gakw{container-type:inline-size;width:100%;max-width:970px;margin:0 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solid rgba(255,255,255,0.18);backdrop-filter:blur(8px);-webkit-backdrop-filter:blur(8px);border-radius:20px;padding:3px 10px 3px 7px;margin-bottom:clamp(5px,0.6vw,9px);animation:hitl8gak-badge 0.5s ease both;\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:6px;height:6px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size:clamp(8px,0.9vw,10px);font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.07em;color:rgba(255,255,255,0.88);text-transform:uppercase;white-space:nowrap;\">EXCLUSIVE OFFER<\/span><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitl8gakh\" style=\"animation:hitl8gak-slideup 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0.15s;\">Your Website <span style=\"color:#dc2626;\">Should Sell.<\/span><\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitl8gaks\" style=\"animation:hitl8gak-slideup 0.7s ease both;animation-delay:0.3s;\">Custom-built websites with smart automation & AI-powered features.<\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"hitl8gakbl\"><div class=\"hitl8gakbi\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:5px;height:5px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:7px;\"><\/span><span>SEO-optimized & lightning fast<\/span><\/div><div class=\"hitl8gakbi\"><span style=\"display:inline-block;width:5px;height:5px;border-radius:50%;background:#dc2626;flex-shrink:0;margin-right:7px;\"><\/span><span>Smart features built for your business<\/span><\/div><\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  \r\n  <div class=\"hitl8gakct\">\r\n    <button class=\"hitl8gakbtn\" style=\"animation:hitl8gak-pulse 2.5s ease-in-out infinite;animation-delay:1s;\">Get Free Consultation <span style=\"opacity:.9;\">\u2192<\/span><\/button>\r\n    <div class=\"hitl8gakbr\">hit.land<\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/a>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<p>Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman&#8217;s Market<\/p>\n<p>Oman&#8217;s robust growth in heritage and tourism, with sector contributions rising to 2.7% of GDP and expanding international outreach, <strong>signals strong diversification away from oil dependency<\/strong>. Businesses should capitalize on the expanding hotel infrastructure, increased domestic tourism, and international marketing efforts to tap into growing demand. Smart investors must consider opportunities in integrated tourism complexes and port infrastructure enhancements, while also monitoring the evolving regulatory environment to maximize returns in this rapidly developing sector.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Oman\u2019s tourism sector showed strong growth in the first nine months of 2025, with tourism output hitting RO 1.99 billion and contributing 2.7% to GDP. International visitors reached 2.83 million, while domestic visits surged to 13.6 million, boosting the economy and employment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6572,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[482],"tags":[642,271,640],"class_list":["post-6571","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","tag-cultural-heritage","tag-economic-diversification","tag-oman-tourism"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3201005.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6571","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6571"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6571\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6573,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6571\/revisions\/6573"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6571"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6571"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omanet.om\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6571"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}