Travel sector contributes 2.9% to Oman GDP

Muscat: Oman's recent effort to promote itself as a tourism destination in the region seems to be bearing fruit, but the number of visitors to the country remains much lower than those who go on tourist trips abroad.

According to tourism statistics released by the Ministry of National Economy and the Ministry of Tourism, the tourism sector contributed 507 million Omani riyals (Dh4.83 billion), which was 2.9 per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2009.

It has improved slightly compared to 2.4 per cent in 2008 and 2.7 per cent in 2007.

The study, which was carried out in cooperation with the World Tourism Organisation, included a number of indicators for Oman's tourism industry for the years 2005-09.

The study says that the tourism sector significantly contributed to the national economic development in Oman.

The study mentioned that the expenditure on tourism for 2009 which includes inbound, outbound and local tourism, amounted to 1.03 billion riyals, while spending for visitors to Oman was about 144 million riyals comprising 14 per cent of the gross tourism consumption in the country.

The total expenditure of the local tourism for nationals as well as residents was estimated to be 662 million riyals which adds up to 64 per cent of the gross tourism expenditure in 2009 that includes the expenditure in Oman before and after travel for Omanis and expatriates, who had flown out of the country as well as expenses on local air travel.

The government summary of the tourism statistics also pointed out that the expenses on outbound tourism, for Omanis and expatriates who flew out, during 2009 stood was 228 million riyals.

The summary also stated that outbound tourism is more than inbound tourism whether in the number of tourists or the amount of expenditure.

About 1,586,979 tourists from around the world flew into Oman in 2009 compared to 1,614,703 in 2008 and 1,359,510 in 2007. On the other hand 2,469,711 citizens and expatriates flew out of the country in 2009, 3,099,933 in 2008 and 2,945,082 tourists in 2007.