admin In a remarkable achievement, Oman has clinched a coveted spot among the world’s fastest-growing destinations for international arrivals in 2022 compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019. According to a recent report by the US-based travel industry news and market research company, Skift, Oman experienced an impressive surge of 38% in international arrivals in 2022, positioning itself as the seventh-ranked country in the world for this remarkable growth.
Exciting New Destination
Skift’s “State of Travel Report 2023” unveiled a roster of impressive achievers in the realm of global tourism growth. Austria took the lead with a staggering growth rate of 355%, followed closely by the UAE at 109%, the Dominican Republic at 71%, Andorra at 47%, and the Netherlands at 43%. Rounding off the top ten list were Qatar, Oman, Albania, Colombia, and Serbia, each showcasing their unique allure to travelers worldwide.
The report highlighted a noteworthy trend in the Middle East, wherein all sectors of the travel industry – hotels, vacation rentals, and car rentals – have not only rebounded but surpassed 2019 levels, with Oman leading the charge. The Middle East emerged as a standout region, experiencing a complete recovery of international travel in the first quarter of 2023, unlike most other parts of the world that continue to grapple with lingering effects of the pandemic.
Comparison With 2019 Levels
The jewel in the Middle East’s tourism crown, the United Arab Emirates, welcomed a staggering 22.7 million tourists in the previous year, surpassing 2019 levels and setting a remarkable benchmark. Oman followed suit with its resurgence, surpassing its pre-pandemic figures of 2.5 million tourist arrivals in 2019 to an impressive 2.9 million in 2022.
Further boosting Oman’s tourism optimism, a comprehensive report issued by the international firm BMI, a subsidiary of Fitch Solutions, indicated a robust recovery of Oman’s tourism sector in 2022, outpacing initial expectations. The momentum is anticipated to sustain throughout the current year, building on the country’s strong foundation for future growth.
Recent statistics have fueled this optimism, with Oman reporting a staggering 95.1% surge in visitor numbers during the first five months of 2023 compared to the same period last year. The projections for the rest of the year are equally promising, with BMI estimating a remarkable 20.8% annual increase in international tourists for 2023, pushing the total number to 3.5 million.
The report underscored that Oman’s strategic focus on economic diversification, in line with its ambitious Vision 2040 plan, is a key driver of the tourism sector’s upward trajectory. Leveraging the impetus provided by robust oil prices, both leisure and commercial tourism are poised for further expansion.
Future Predictions
Intriguingly, the Middle East is expected to continue as the primary source of tourists for Oman in 2023, with around 1.5 million visitors anticipated from the region. Asia-Pacific and Europe are projected to contribute 606,390 and 320,600 tourists respectively, with Africa and the Americas contributing significantly as well.
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