Oman top destination for tourists from KSA

More than 17,000 Saudi tourists visited neighboring Oman last year, placing the country among leading destinations for the Kingdom’s residents.
“The government aims to sustain this growth and achieve further market expansion by participating in travel fairs taking place in various parts of the Kingdom,” said Ghasi Humaid Al-Hashmi, deputy director-general of Tourism Promotion at Oman’s Ministry of Tourism, during the recently concluded travel fair in the capital.
“We have undertaken several developments and campaigns to boost the country’s tourism sector over the past years,” said Al-Hashmi. “Our efforts include continuous improvement of our infrastructure, enhancement of our services and implementation of awareness campaigns to consistently attract international visitors. I am happy to say that we are seeing good results from these strategic measures. Notably, Oman is enjoying an influx of tourists from Saudi Arabia, the majority of whom visit Salalah.”
Oman remains one of the most diverse environments in the Middle East. It has also been highly successful in establishing itself as a prime destination for cultural tourism.
Its capital, Muscat, was named the second best city to visit in the world in 2012 by Lonely Planet, the renowned travel guide publisher.
Among Oman’s local tourist attractions are the stunning nature, beaches, old-world souqs (markets), forts, ancient settlements, tombs and UNESCO-recognized heritage sites. Visitors can also engage in trekking and rock-climbing, turtle, dolphin and bird-watching and desert safaris, among other exciting activities.
During the Riyadh Travel Fair, the ministry showcased the diversity and appeal of Oman’s major tourist attractions and vacation spots, including the southern city of Salalah and various ancient sites, which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.