BERLIN: The Sultanate of Oman received 4 million visitors last year, which had a positive economic impact and this has encouraged the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism to implement various promotion programmes, including participation in this global exhibition.
This was stated by Salim bin Mohammed al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, as the Sultanate of Oman’s pavilion at ITB Berlin 2024 was opened on Tuesday, with the participation of about 70 companies and tourism and hotel establishments.
The pavilion showcases Oman’s tourism attractions and landmarks that abound in different governorates, as well as the services offered by travel and tourism companies to inbound visitors.
The event also provides an opportunity for Oman to explore investment opportunities available in the tourism sector. The exhibitors allocate galleries in the pavilion for adventure tourism and Omani culinary arts, along with related products of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Kai Wenger, Mayor of Berlin and attended by Salim bin Mohammed al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, Azzan bin Qasim al
Busaidy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism, Maitha bint Saif al Mahrouqiyah, Oman's Ambassador to Germany, and a number of German officials.
The minister said: “The Sultanate of Oman’s participation in ITB Berlin is expected to bring about a 15-20 per cent rise in the number of tourists visiting the country from the German market”. He added that the programmes offered by the ministry in cooperation with its partners in the tourism sector will appeal to various segments of visitors to Oman.
Speaking on the occasion, Maitha said: "The Sultanate of Oman’s participation in this global exhibition contributes to increasing the number of arriving tourists due to its attractive and encouraging features for tourists from European countries, especially the Republic of Germany."
She stressed that Oman is considered one of the advanced countries in terms of the diversity of different tourism experiences, and it is an opportunity to introduce it in this international tourism exhibition, which has the participation of about 160 countries from various countries of the world, considering that Germany is the highest source of tourists from Europe.
Meanwhile, the CEO of Oman Airports, Shaikh Ayman bin Ahmed al Hosni, said that the company seeks to attract more international airlines to Oman through various measures, including meetings that will bring together representatives of partner firms taking part in ITB Berlin.
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