THE Sultanate of Oman's Ministry of Tourism is participating at the four-day Riyadh Travel Fair 2012 that starts today (May 15) - a key networking event for leading travel and tourism companies in Saudi Arabia and many other countries. The Kingdom is a growing tourism market for Oman with the number of Saudi nationals visiting Oman reaching 60,000 in 2011, a 17 percent increase over the previous year. The Ministry showcases popular tourist destinations and festivals, as well as Muriya's newly opened resort hotels at Jebel Sifah and Salalah. As well, a number of hotels will open towards the end of 2012 including Best Western in Al Khuwair and Holiday Inn in As Seeb. The Ministry sees the Fair as a valuable platform for trade and consumer communications, as well as reinforcing Oman's tourism Brand Campaign: Beauty has an address – Oman. Tourism is a key growth industry for the Sultanate with international arrivals to Muscat reaching 2.4 million in 2011 (14 per cent higher than the previous year), with GGC arrivals increasing by 27 percent. Ali Khaburi, Director General of Tourism Promotion at Oman's Ministry of Tourism, said: “Saudi Arabia is a key tourism market from many perspectives. Saudi visitors are growing in number and we think they are also increasing their length of stay.” The Ministry will give a special presentation about the Salalah Tourism Festival that heralds the start of the "Khareef" season that turns Dhofar into a lush green landscape. The Salalah Tourism Festival runs from June 21 to July 18 July this year.
