Oman's fledgling tourist industry has hit the rocks in the wake of the terror attacks in the United States and prospects have been further damaged by retaliatory US-led strikes on Afghanistan reported AFP on Tuesday October 9.
"Tourism -- which has always been a sensitive sector -- and related services in Oman will suffer in the wake of the attacks," said Mohammad Ali Said, director general of Oman's tourist board. Oman, which enjoys stunning natural scenery that includes mile after mile of pristine beach, rugged mountain and baking desert, has already had cancellations and was bracing itself for more.
"The sultanate was due to hold a conference next week bringing together 450 delegates from the world's wheat boards. At least 300 have already cancelled their proposed four-night stays," the tourist chief said. "To lose 1,200 nights and associated revenues is not good," he added. "It is a shame. We were expecting a very good season this year."
"The situation will last for at least the next year until there is sufficient consumer confidence. We will have a wait-and-see policy, making sure to keep up promotions and marketing strategies to convince people the country is safe and secure."
Oman, a conservative Muslim state that occupies the eastern edge of the Arabian peninsula, has, like other Gulf states, embraced tourism as part of a drive to diversify revenue sources away from the market vagaries of oil or gas prices.
But it has avoided the mass tourism of Dubai, targeting instead the middle and high-class tourists to better stimulate the economy and not offend local sensibilities. Oman has however hit the headlines since the September 11 terror attacks in the United States for the wrong reasons.
Omani forces are currently staging joint exercises with more than 23,000 British counterparts in the sultanate, and London has kept open the possibility of using some of its troops in the offensive against Afghanistan if need be.
Two British nuclear-powered submarines in the region to participate in the Swift Sword II operations have already fired missiles at key military installations and training camps of prime terror suspect Osama Bin Laden's training camps in Afghanistan.
Issa Al-Hajery, general manager of Al-Bustan hotel, arguably the plushest in the Gulf, said Oman had to convince its current mainly German-speaking clientele that it remained pro-West and liberal.
"Oman has a worldwide reputation as a safe destination and it is that strong standing it must play on. We must look to capitalize on how we've always been perceived," he told AFP.
"The main problem for us now is that European airlines from our main markets are cutting back on flights," said Hajery, whose hotel has had 5,000 nights cancelled since last month's outrages in New York and Washington.
"We have to look to other forms of transport and that might mean charter flights if there is a strong demand, especially following the privatization of our two main commercial airports."
Hajery added that the Omani government's strategy over the coming five years involved focusing not only on foreigners but other Gulf Arabs. According to Commerce Minister Maqbool Bin Ali Sultan, the government has earmarked five coastal areas for tourist development by 2005 to attract tourists from the regional market.
"The government has always been behind tourist sector, and it is critical that that support remains," Hajery said. — (AFP, Muscat)
by Luke Phillips
© Agence France Presse
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
