Tourism in Oman

The Sultanate of Oman, which is located on the Arabian Peninsula, has a tourism sector that continues to grow steadily. The tourism concept pursued in Oman differs fundamentally from that of neighboring countries such as the United Arab Emirates. In Oman, there are only a few hotels, which are however maintained to very high standards. The tourist infrastructure is clearly dominated by the few luxury hotels, while it is rare to see simple hotels or guesthouses. According to a study by the World Economic Forum in April 2017, Oman is currently in ninth place worldwide with regards to tourism growth.
With its tourism on offer, Oman follows the approach of what is called gentle tourism. The few hotels that exist are organically integrated into the environment so that the traditional image and nature of Oman may be preserved.
From Europe, numerous airlines provide service to Muscat International Airport but most do not fly there directly, but rather via the hubs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The state-owned airline Oman Air has greatly expanded its flight offerings in recent years and now offers many direct flights between Europe and Oman. Tourists who want to visit the south of Oman can easily reach the region via the modern airport located in Salalah.
Oman is considered to be a very safe destination because there is virtually no crime. According to the World Economic Forum, Oman is the fourth safest country to travel to in the world and thanks to the well-developed road network and the modern infrastructure, traveling by car is also very safe.
Tourism in Oman is still currently focused on only a relatively small part of the country. This is mainly due to reasons concerning geography, namely that the beaches, mountains, and deserts are closer together than in almost any other country in the world. It takes only about two hours by car from the capital city of Muscat to reach the Hadjar Mountains with their 3000-meter-high peaks. If one wishes to visit the Wahiba Sands Desert in the south, they are also very close to that. The proximity of different landscapes and natural settings therefore makes Oman an excellent destination for gentle tourism and touring vacations. Nearly all Omanis profess to Islam and the majority belongs to the faith of the Ibadites. What is also deeply rooted in the Omani culture is the cordial hospitality and great helpfulness of the people. Contact with Omanis for tourists beyond the realm of the hotels is problem-free since usually, good English is spoken.
Both the scenic diversity of Oman and man-made sights are described in each category of this page.