Muscat Daily

Russian tourists to Oman increased over 300% to 53,145 in 2023

Oman witnessed a remarkable surge of over 308% Russian tourist arrivals in 2023, with numbers increasing to 53,145 from around 13,000 in 2022.

This significan­t jump was highlighte­d by H E Azzan bin Qasim al Busaidi, Undersecre­tary for Tourism in the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, during promotiona­l events held in

Moscow and St Petersburg on June 10 and 11, aimed to showcase Oman's diverse tourism offerings to the Russian market.

The Omani delegation, led by H E Busaidi, included representa­tives of 20 tourism companies and institutio­ns. Bilateral meetings between Omani and Russian tourism businesses facilitate­d valuable networking opportunit­ies.

“These promotiona­l activities are designed to introduce the most prominent tourism experience­s in Oman to key Russian travel companies,” H E Busaidi explained. “We aim to boost ties between Omani and Russian tourism operators and attract more Russian visitors to explore our beautiful country.”

He informed that Oman is a multi-season destinatio­n known for its natural beauty and cultural heritage, attracting tourists from all walks of life. Currently, there is a focus on attracting more travellers to experience the luxurious and diverse hospitalit­y of the sultanate as reflected in the Oman Pavilion at St Petersburg Economic Forum held from June 5 to 8.

In recognitio­n of Russia as a significan­t global source of tourism - particular­ly for Oman - the promotiona­l events aimed to capitalise on the momentum generated by the surge in Russian tourists in 2023, while highlighti­ng the sultanate’s unique blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage and luxurious hospitalit­y.

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism launched a campaign in Paris in May, aimed at showcasing the beauty of Oman through various mediums, including public transport buses and iconic French landmarks like ChampsElys­ees, Eiffel Tower and Place de la Concorde. The campaign sought to reinforce Oman's status as a distinctiv­e tourism destinatio­n for European tourists.