Buoyed by a strong growth in tourism receipts and visitations in 2023, that were close to 4 million, Oman has outlined plans to invest over USD 31 billion for the tourism sector by 2040.

Oman has announced targets to invest over USD 31 billion for the tourism sector by 2040, Azzan al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Tourism, stated at ITB Berlin.

According to a press statement by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT), Busaidi elaborated on Oman’s strategy to utilise the platform provided by ITB Berlin to highlight its rich tourism offerings and future projects with the aim of drawing global attention to the sultanate’s diverse attractions.

It says that year 2023 marked a significant uptick in tourism for Oman, with the sultanate welcoming 4 million visitors, of which 231,000 were German tourists, up 182 pc from 2022.

The statement adds that the undersecretary highlighted the ministry’s dedication to creating a favourable environment for tourism expansion. Efforts include streamlining visa procedures and easing restrictions for travellers from over 100 countries.

It adds that Oman is channelling more than USD 5.9 billion into 360 projects aimed at enhancing infrastructure and enriching tourist experiences.

Mario Tobias, CEO of Messe Berlin, the organiser of ITB Berlin, said he was honoured to welcome Oman as the host nation at the exhibition. He informed that plans for Oman’s participation had been in the works for years, delayed only by the Covid-19 pandemic.