Oman Tourism

The Sultanate of Oman on the Arabian Peninsula is continuously developing its tourism in a sustainable way. The philosophy here is fundamentally different from that of the neighboring countries such as the United Arab Emirates. In Oman, there are few hotels, which are, however, of very high standard. The image is shaped by a few luxury hotels while simple hotels or guesthouses are rarely seen. A study by the World Economic Forum (published in April 2017) ranks Oman ninth in terms of tourism growth.

The character of gentle tourism remains, as the hotels adapt to the traditional image of Oman and not the other way around.

From Europe, many airlines fly to the international airport of Muscat although mostly via the hubs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The state airline Oman Air has significantly expanded its flight offerings in recent years and now also provides direct flights from Europe to Oman. One can also comfortably reach the south of Oman via the airport of Salalah.

Oman is a very safe country to travel to, with little crime. According to the study by the World Economic Forum (April 2017), Oman is the fourth safest travel destination in the world. The modern infrastructure in all parts of the country makes traveling in this respect extremely safe.

Currently, tourism is focused on a relatively small part of the country. This is related to the fact that beach, mountains, and desert are as close together as in hardly any other country in the world. From the capital Muscat, it takes about two hours by car to reach the Hajar Mountains with their peaks towering 3000 meters high. The same driving time is required to reach the Wahiba Sands desert . These conditions make Oman an excellent round-trip destination.

The inhabitants of Oman are almost exclusively Muslims. The majority belong to the Ibadi sect. The people are very hospitable and helpful. Omanis generally speak good English.