The great Omani escape
Arabian Travel News discovered why GCC residents should be packing their bags and heading for Oman’s mountains for a great short break this summer
More than half of travel agency business was generated from people travelling between GCC countries during the first quarter of 2009, according to wholesalers Gullivers Travels Associates (GTA).
With a reported drop in traditional European markets of around 50% across the board; agents, hotels, suppliers and governments are targeting the regional market, but for the Sultanate of Oman, this is not a new trend.
“Intra-regional travel to Oman from the GCC is already the largest inbound marketand is still growing,” according to Oman Tourism GCC representative Mark Senior.
“They’re coming for short breaks at the weekend for two to three nights; primarily for leisure purposes,” he says.
Most head to cool Salalah in the South, where daytime temperatures peak at around 30°C. Here, the summer season is also known as ‘Khareef’ as the Qara Mountains draw light monsoons from India, resulting in the formation of lush green countryside.
Visitors to Salalah between July 15 and August 31 can enjoy the Salalah Tourism Festival, with its wealth of entertainment in celebration of Arabian culture.
“Muscat is still quite hot during the summer, but it’s a meeting point for rich oil companies year round,” explains Senior.
However, he says the capital,which is just a 90-minute drive from the mountains, has also seen an influx of budget travellers looking to pick up an out-of-season bargain.
“Our partnerships with Oman Air and Muscat hotels means there are some good rates going. You can buy an air ticket and two night’s B&B in a four-star hotel for around US $271 — cheaper than if you were just buying an air ticket,” says Senior.
While Oman has always been recognised as a “big-time family destination”, an increasing number of young groups are being enticed by affordable adventure holiday deals. Activities range from the soft to the extreme, including climbing, caving, cycling, paintballing, diving, dune bashing and kite boarding.
Keeping up with the industry’s latest travel trend, Oman is also establishing itself as an eco-tourism destination.
Around 30,000 turtles nest on the beaches of Ras al-Jinz in the South East and since the Ras al-Jinz Scientific and Visitor Centre opened six months ago, guests can book a ranger to take them to see the turtles at night in their natural habitat.
The centre is focused on preserving the environment and retaining Omani communities. “Staff are all Omani-born, restaurants serve fresh fish caught by local fishermen and in the gift shop you’ll find staff handcrafting traditional Omani jewellery,” says acting marketing manager Céline Géraud.
Just over an hour’s drive away, visitors will stumble on another treasure new for this summer; the Jebel Shams Base Camp.
This mountain camp offers four-star standard, private facilities comprising six bungalows and Bedouin-style air-conditioned tents, and is a great place to explore the Gulf’s highest mountain range with breathtaking views.
Senior also mentions that European expatriates from the Middle East are attracted by Oman’s architecture, monuments and more than 500 ancient forts and castles dating back thousands of years.
And if there’s still time on the itinerary, suggest a night sleeping under the stars on the top deck of an air-conditioned dhow cruise.
“We want the growing GCC market to continue to grow,” says Senior, who explains the Oman Tourism board has dedicated more than half its annual budget to working with the region’s travel trade, rolling out cooperative marketing and training programmes.
New Park Inn town
Having opened in March, The Park Inn, Muscat, claims to be the newest hotel built in Oman in four years.
The 175-room hotel is located on the main highway linking Muscat International Airport to the capital’s central business district Ruwi.
Boasting five meeting rooms and a business centre, the Park Inn attracts corporates. Leisure guests tend to come for the weekend. “What we find is that companies will often come on business, but will mix in some leisure activities,” explains executive assistant manager Marcello Nisi.
“The hotel’s very different from older properties in Oman; it’s very colourful, light and modern and we’re promoting the opening with lots of special offers,” he adds.
Visit: www.rezidorparkinn.com
Ras al-Jinz Scientific and Visitor Centre
The highlight of the new Ras al-Jinz Scientific and Visitor Centre is the turtle reserve, where you can see more than 30,000 green turtles nesting on the beaches.
Selling tips
Recommend an overnight stay at the reserve from $210 a room per night, including tax, service charges and turtle watching.
For corporates, recommend the centre as a unique meeting and incentives venue.
Agent incentives
Travel agents from outside Oman receive 10% commission on all overnight stays, restaurant and corporate bookings (commission is not earned on the guided tours). Travel agents based in Oman receive up to 20% commission.
Omani born and bred
Local tour operator Majan Light Travel & Tourism’s Nina Ventsik suggests some must-dos in her home country
“With green mountains standing three kilometres above sea level and a cool temperature up to 15˚ lower than the rest of the GCC, it’s no wonder neighbouring countries flock to Oman to escape the heat,” says Nina Ventsik.
UAE residents often come for adventure tourism and the beaches — usually for a short stay of around three days.
Expat Europeans are also looking for culture, museums and castles.“The Khareef starts in Salalah in summer so most of the traffic is to Salalah, Jebel Shams and Jebel Akhdar, while Muscat is a good destination for corporates (making up 80-90% of the market) and budget travellers,” explains Ventsik.
“Unlike Dubai there’s no construction and most of the buildings are less than five-storeys high, with roof terraces and sea views,” she adds.
Omani guides
Some tour operators in Oman, like Majan Light Travel & Tourism, only employ Omani guides. “We think that’s important because they’re passionate about their country. Often guides will go off the beaten track and show guests their own villages,” says Ventsik.
Traditional villages
Traditional villages are popular for trekking and seeing Omani people go about their daily lives. Visitors can pick up teas and cosmetics made using rose water from the spring blooms.
Authentic stay
Create packages incorporating an overnight stay in an old Omani house made from mud and stone, located on farmland in the heart of the mountains for the ultimate getaway.
Contacts
Majan Light Travel & Tourism: www.majanlight.com
Diving: www.global-scuba.com / www.musandamdiving.com
Fishing: www.waterworldoman.com
Climbing / mountain biking: www.holiday-in-oman.com
Trekking: www.sultanat-d-oman.com
Kite boarding: www.kiteboarding-oman.com
Getting there
By car: A large number of residents from Saudi Arabia and the UAE choose to drive to Oman due to its close proximity.
By Air: Oman Air increased its flight frequency to major cities in the Arabian Gulf on March 29 and now flies to:
Abu Dhabi — 21 flights a week, non-stop
Bahrain — 18 flights a week, non-stop
Doha — 18 flights a week, non-stop
Jeddah — four flights a week non-stop
Riyadh — four flights a week, non-stop
Taking flight
Oman Air’s corporate communications manager Usama Karim Al Haremi gives you the latest update on the national carrier’s 2009 strategy.
Which are Oman Air’s main markets?
We fly to 72 destinations. Our main markets are the Indonesian subcontinent, GCC, Asia, the Far East and North Africa.
Which routes are big summer markets for you?
Many of the GCC markets use Muscat as a hub station. From June to September most of the flights are to Salalah for the monsoon season; a green area right in the middle of the desert.
Why do so many GCC residents holiday in Oman?
Oman is an exotic destination; a multi-cultural country with unique landscapes. It has the largest coastline in the Middle East, mountains, water wadis and the essence of Arabia. It’s very safe, quiet and clean and it is an environmentally friendly country. A lot of the properties adhere to eco-standards and eco-tourism is growing. People also come for adventure tourism.
Do you expect to see an increase on last summer’s passenger numbers?
We can’t predict passenger numbers because of the financial crisis and the swine flu; we expect that it will be slower than previous years, but Lebanon and Cairo will keep flying to Oman, as well as Germany, France and Japan.
What’s new for the airline this year?
We’re in the process of launching new routes to Frankfurt, Paris, Maldives, Columbia, Sri Lanka and Demascus in Syria.
We’re expecting two new A330s to be delivered in September and the business class seats will also be introduced that month on the Frankfurt and Paris routes. The new seats will boast an 82” pitch, configured four abreast in a 1-2-1 layout.
Summer packages
We round up some of the best summer spectaculars that guests won’t be able to refuse
Crowne Plaza Muscat
Return flights, two night’s bed and breakfast (B&B) $406
Al Sawadi Beach Resort
Return flights, two night’s B&B $315.
Golden Tulip Khasab
Return flights, three nights B&B and take a luxury cruise at no extra cost $367
Golden Tulip Seeb
Return flights, two night’s B&B $307
Golden Tulip, Nizwa
Return flights, two night’s B&B $490
Swiss Belhotel Sohar Beach
Enjoy a weekend package rate of $232 a room per night, including tax, service charges and breakfast. Children under 14 stay free when sharing their parents’ room.
Shangri-La’s Barr al Jissah Resort and Spa
Return flights, two night’s B&B $334
Muscat Holiday
Return flights, two night’s B&B $271
Chedi Muscat
Return flights, two night’s B&B $427
Crowne Plaza Hotel Sohar
Return flights, two night’s B&B $472
Jebel Shams Base Camp
Stay for $88 per room per night, including tax, service charges and breakfast
Radisson SAS Muscat
Return flights, two nights B&B $337
Al Bustan Palace Intercontinental
Return flights, two night’s B&B $323
Grand Hyatt Muscat
Return flights, two night’s B&B $397
Six Senses Zighy Bay
Stay in a pool villa for $910 per night, including tax, service charge and breakfast. Stay two nights and pay for one.
Hilton Salalah
Return flights, three night’s B&B $375
Swiss-Belhotel Resort Masirah Island
Enjoy a special opening offer of $179 per room per night, including tax, service charges and breakfast. Stay three nights and pay for two.
InterContinental Hotel Muscat
Return flights, two nights B&B $460
Crown Plaza Salalah
Return flights, three nights B&B $375
Park Inn, Muscat
Return flights, two nights B&B $307
*All flights are Oman Air and room prices are on a twin-room sharing basis unless otherwise stated.