The Ministry of Tourism of Sultanate of Oman announced the record-breaking tourism results from the Italian market: from January to June 2017 the Sultanate welcomed 22.497 visitors from Italy, an increase of 35,6% compared to the past year. Italy is the 6th international market and 4th European market for tourist arrivals.
This result marks a turnaround compared to 2016, when arrivals decreased following the general trend of Middle East area. The first months of 2017 saw a return of Italian tourists to Oman with record results higher than 2015 (19.841 passengers in the first semester).
“We are confident that this positive trend will continue in the second semester of the year, thanks to the support of our Omani partners, airlines and Italian operators. We count especially on the fall and winter months, when the mild climate is ideal to discover a country with such a diverse offer”, said Massimo Tocchetti, Italian Representative of the Ministry of Tourism of Sultanate of Oman. “The strategy implemented for the destination, aimed to create unique travel experiences in different areas and to enhance the local culture and heritage, is bearing fruits. The promotion of the Country will focus for the whole 2017 and beyond on the capital city Muscat, the coast of Musandam, the Hajar mountains, the incense route in Dhofar and the beaches of Salalah”.
Arrival growth was supported also by the investments made by the Italian tour operators Alpitour, Eden and Veratour linked to the direct flights to Salalah, which is the new sea resorts of the Indian Ocean and starting point for the discovery of the Dhofar and all the Sultanate.