Salalah. Salalah.

Oman’s Ministry of Tourism announced its new projects to develop luxurious hotels to address the rising numbers of guest arrivals as well as the booming local tourism industry.

The top 10 projects that are currently being developed in the country have a total investment value of just over US $3.3 billion. Among those that will be opening their doors will be hotels from Westin, St. Regis and W, as well as Ritz Carlton- the Muscat Reserve at $200 million.

High-end mixed-use developments such as the Saraya Bandar Jissah Resort valued at $840 million are also underway as well as the Kempinski Hotel, Louis Vuitton Hotel and Fairmont Hotel which will be completed in the next few years.

Shati Salalah resort alone will have 700 rooms and 205 residential units and villas which will be completed within the year. Alila Resort Salalah, on the other hand, will offer 125 rooms and 46 residential units and 49 villas – all set for completion in 2016.

Two major luxury hotels will be opening their doors a year later in 2017: Yiti Resort with 550 rooms and 1,100 residential units and villas and Saraya Bandar Jissah with 326 rooms and 356 residential units and villas.

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According to a study conducted by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the country saw an increase in revenues and guest nights, recording a 26.1% growth in guest numbers in December of 2014 against the previous years, making a jump from US $390,898 million (OMR 150,486 million) to $431,141 million (OMR 165, 970 million).

Oman’s four- and five-star hotels also witnessed a total year-on-year revenue growth of 10.3% in the same period.

Her Excellency Maitha Al Mahrooqi, undersecretary, Oman Ministry of Tourism, said: “We are both pleased and excited to witness the positive developments in our tourism industry. As of now, Business Monitor Index (BMI) has predicted that there will be 1.14 million tourist arrivals this 2015, representing a 3% increase from the previous year as tourist receipts reach USD 2.24 billion, up by 5% year-on-year.

"As more and more people flock to have an exotic and authentic travel experience, we want to provide superior services and top-quality experiences to our travelers from the Gulf and all over the world.”