Oman set to boost tourism with 31 new hotels

Times of Oman reported it has received data that revealed there will be 31 hotels, including resorts, that are expected to open, with a total of 3,264 rooms this year.

The newspaper report said that data from Oman’s Ministry of Tourism revealed that more than 80 per cent of the hotels set to open in 2019 will be three stars and below.  

A ministry official, according to the newspaper, had said that the ministry is making accommodation in the Sultanate more affordable for everyone in order to cater to a wider market by approving the establishment of 24 low-budget hotels.

The report also added that Muscat is set to have three new five-star hotels, another three four-star hotels, five hotels classified as three star, six, two-star hotels and three, one-star hotels. This brings the total number of hotels set to open in Muscat in 2019 to 20.

Quoting an official, the newspaper noted that the “launch of five-star hotels this year such as the W, JW Marriott, and Hilton will represent the opening of more than a thousand luxury rooms added to the governorate of Muscat alone.

The newspaper also noted that there an additional “21 hotel apartment projects are expected to be launched with a capacity of 559 apartments.”

Other hotel establishments expected to be launched this year include “one tourist camp with a total of 10 rooms, 33 hospitality inns, and guest houses with a total of 150 rooms”, added the official.

According to data revealed to the Times of Oman by the ministry, a total of 29 hotels have received approval by the Ministry of Tourism. “In total, 86 establishments have been granted approvals to establish various tourism projects in the Sultanate,” the report said.

The newspaper also reported that hotel growth would go beyond the capital, stating:  “Al Buraimi, Dhofar, and Musandam governorates will each have a new hotel this year,” reporting that a two-star hotel project with a capacity of 48 rooms will open in Musandam, a four-star hotel will open with 243 rooms this year in Al Buraimi and a one-star hotel with 101 rooms in Dhofa.

Reportedly,  “A’Dhakiliyah is set to have 20 new hospitality inns, hostels and guest houses this year, more than any other governorate in Oman, with nearly 100 rooms.”

Speaking to the Times of Oman a ministry of official cited the W hotel has being “one of the most prominent projects expected to open in 2019.  

“The five-star hotel is located in Wilayat Bausher and is expected to open in the second quarter of 2019, with 279 rooms,” the official said to the newspaper.

According to the Times of Oman, the data it received further revealed that “57 per cent of all the hotel establishments in Oman are located in the northern parts of the Sultanate with 238 hotels and 15,119 hotel rooms spread across Al Buraimi, Musandam, Northern Batinah, Southern Batinah and Muscat Governorates.”