Passenger arrivals at Oman's airports have risen impressively, according to preliminary statistics issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). This surge in arrivals is being attributed to several factors, including increased tourism activity and the growing popularity of Oman as a travel destination in the Middle East.
The number of passengers who arrived at Oman’s airports until the end of March 2023 increased by 88 per cent, recording 3, 287, 015 passengers, compared to 1,746, 259 passengers during the same period last year.
Over the past year, Oman has taken several steps to boost its tourism industry. One such effort has been the launch of a new visa system that makes it easier for tourists to visit the country. Under the new system which was launched in March, visitors from 103 countries are eligible for an e-visa, which can be obtained online within a matter of minutes.
In addition to these efforts, Oman's government has also invested heavily in promoting the country's natural beauty and cultural heritage to potential visitors. The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism said the total investments in Oman's heritage and tourism sector is expected to reach RO 3 billion for 2021-2025.
Meanwhile, the number of passengers through Muscat International Airport by the end of March 2023 reached 2,959,829 passengers, compared to 1,473,818 passengers until the end of March 2022, or an increase of 100.8 per cent. The number of flights that used Muscat International Airport during the same period totalled 22,145 flights compared to 11,419 flights until the end of March 2022 or an increase of 93.9 per cent.
The number of passengers who arrived at Salalah Airport reached 304,538, an increase of 34.2 per cent. The airport recorded 2,184 flights, with an increase in flights of 33.2 per cent, compared to the same period in 2022.
On the other hand, the number of passengers arrived at Sohar Airport reached 5,401 passengers on 76 flights, while the number of passengers through Duqm Airport reached 17,247 passengers on 152 flights.
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