Oman eases visa rules to attract visitors

Oman has eased visa regulations, especially for the GCC residents to facilitate visitors but the Royal Oman Police has cautioned against those 'misusing' the new regulations.

In a press statement here, Colonel Said bin Hilal Al Kindi, the Director General of Passports and Residency, has said the police will deal sternly against those misusing tourist visas.

He referred to the 'dubious businessmen' and 'suitcase traders', who enter Oman as tourists. "We will ask them to leave their goods or return to the place they come from."

He added women of certain nationalities will not be permitted to enter Oman if they seek to enter 'single'. "They will be allowed if they come with their spouses or as part of a tour party."

However, he stressed the tour party should have equal number of men and women while seeking tourist visas to Oman.

With the temperatures soaring in all parts of the GCC states and the region as a whole, Oman's southern tip, Dhofar region enjoys wonderful weather with temperatures hovering between 22 degrees Celsius to maximum 25. Occasional drizzles often drench the soil as greenery abounds in this mountainous area.

Therefore, Oman witnesses an influx of tourists during the peak of summer, especially from the UAE and other GCC states. The Omani government has recently reduced fees for tourist visas.

A GCC resident of any nationality can now obtain visas from the Omani embassies or can drive to the Omani border (airport) and get a visa on arrival. A month-long tourist visa is given to the GCC residents for only Dh30 for an adult while no charges are levied on kids accompanying their parents.

Passengers and crew of tourist ships are given free 24-hour visas that can be extended for a fee of Dh20. An amount of Dh50 is charged for the other tourist visas. Express visas are issued at the Seeb International Airport for an amount of Dh70.

Col Al Kindi also told that an agreement for a joint tourist cooperation between Oman and Qatar has been signed recently to facilitate easy entry to the residents of both countries from July 1.

According to the agreement, a three-weeks tourist visa will be given to the nationals of 33 countries.

He said all essential procedures have been taken into consideration to ensure easy entry to the Dhofar governorate during the Khareef.

Special care has been taken to provide the best facilities to all GCC tourists, nationals as well as residents, who come by land, sea or air.

Col Al Kindi also advised Omanis travelling abroad to take special care with regards to their passports, which he said should be placed safely.

In case of losing a passport, the person should immediately contact the nearby embassy or consulate and passports should not be pawned under any circumstances, he said.