In an attempt to enhance the global demand for Oman tourism, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism organised a session on Global Distribution Systems (GDS) for representatives of Oman's hospitality sector on Tuesday.
GDS systems simplify the booking process for both travel agents and tourist hotels, provide a seamless and efficient booking experience that enables international visitors to explore the tourism potential of the Sultanate of Oman.
The workshop aimed to propel the tourism industry in the Sultanate of Oman towards new horizons by increasing bookings in Omani hotels and enabling tourism establishments to leverage these systems in attracting a larger number of visitors to their facilities.
GDS systems are central booking platforms that provide travel agents from various countries with real-time access to tourism services, such as flight and hotel rates, car rentals, and other essential traveller products.
These systems serve as a crucial link between travel service providers (hotels) and reservation sources (travel agents), allowing them to efficiently manage bookings and distribute their offerings on a global scale.
"The workshop stems from the initiative's of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism which seeks to enhance Oman's presence in the global tourism market and boost revenue flows in line with the Omani tourism strategy and comprehensive tourism development plan," said Haitham al Ghassani, Director General of Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.
This workshop is part of the implementation of several initiatives and programmes aimed at promoting the Sultanate of Oman as a tourist destination while ensuring a prosperous future for the hotel sector in the country.
The event brought together representatives of various hotel establishments in the Sultanate of Oman, along with two major providers of GDS services, Travelport and Amadeus.
Representatives of these platforms presented their innovative solutions by facilitating direct communication between service providers and the representatives of hospitality sector in Oman across its various categories.
"The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism recognises the positive impact that the hospitality sector in the Sultanate of Oman will gain from the collaboration of the representatives of hospitality sector with these platforms," Al Ghassani said.
He stated that integrating hotels into the global platforms offer a multitude of benefits, including expanding the reach to a wide network of travel agencies and online booking platforms, leading to a significant increase in reservations from around the world.
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