Oman sees record 81,797 Indian arrivals in May; targets quality-led growth

Oman is reinforcing its positioning as a high-quality, sustainable and experience-led destination, with recent geopolitical developments prompting travellers to place greater emphasis on confidence, flexibility and predictability when making travel decisions.

Yousuf Khalaf Al Mujaizi, Assistant Director of Business Development, Tourism Promotion Directorate, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, said resilience comes from having a destination proposition that is genuine, differentiated and built for the long term.

Quality over quantity

According to him, “Oman has never been positioned simply as another destination for volume tourism. Its strength lies in the quality and diversity of the experience, from its mountains, wadis and coastline to its heritage, culture, adventure and hospitality.”

“People want to come back from a holiday having experienced something, rather than simply having visited somewhere,” Al Mujaizi said. This is where Oman’s proposition of slow travel, calm luxury and quality of moments has considerable relevance.

The destination’s vision for the next five years is to grow Oman as a high-quality, sustainable and experience-led destination while continuing to broaden its international appeal.

Growth for Oman, however, is not being measured only by arrival numbers. The focus also extends to the quality of the visitor experience, length of stay, geographic spread of tourism and the value created for local communities and businesses.

Al Mujaizi shared that Oman welcomed 381,305 Indian visitors between January and June 2026. Going forward, Oman’s focus is on building that interest into sustained preference.

“We want travellers to see Oman not simply as an accessible Gulf destination, but as a place with a distinct personality, somewhere they can discover landscapes, heritage and experiences at their own pace,” Al Mujaizi said.

India is central to this approach

Al Mujaizi described India as a market with considerable depth, but also one where travellers have a wide range of destinations competing for their attention. The opportunity therefore is not simply to generate awareness of Oman, but to build familiarity and confidence among consumers and, equally importantly, among the travel trade that influences their decisions.

“The growth Oman is seeing gives it a strong foundation. May recorded 81,797 Indian visitor arrivals, the strongest month for Indian arrivals to Oman in recent decades, alongside strong numbers across the first half of 2026. This momentum reflects the increasing interest in the destination and the importance of maintaining a consistent presence in the market,” Al Mujaizi said.

Moving beyond the short-break proposition

The destination is working to move the conversation beyond the traditional perception of Oman as a short-break or stopover destination and showcase the wider possibilities — from leisure and luxury to adventure, nature, culture, wellness and seasonal experiences such as Salalah’s Khareef. “Travel advisors remain trusted voices for Indian consumers, especially when it comes to international holidays,” Al Mujaizi said.

Oman also believes pricing should be viewed through the lens of value rather than simply cost. “The objective is to offer travellers experiences that justify the journey and create a sense of value through quality and variety,” Al Mujaizi said.

The ambition in India is therefore not simply to recover or increase footfall, but to build sustainable demand and stronger advocacy for the distinctive experiences Oman offers.

Oman seeks its own identity within the GCC

Oman sees significant potential in a more integrated GCC tourism ecosystem. The region has strong connectivity, geographic proximity and a growing international tourism profile, while regional cooperation and shared aviation links can raise the GCC’s overall visibility on the global tourism map and Oman remains open to constructive collaboration, shared Al Mujaizi.

At the same time, the Sultanate believes the next phase of tourism growth will be shaped by the strength of individual destinations and the clarity of what each one offers. “Our strategy is firmly focused on building Oman as a standalone destination with its own character, experiences and reasons to travel,” Al Mujaizi said. The destination sees significant opportunity in allowing international travellers to discover Oman on its own terms, rather than positioning the country primarily as an extension of another destination or as one component of a multi-country holiday.

Oman therefore sees regional developments as an opportunity to strengthen the wider tourism environment while continuing to build its own identity within it. For Oman, the strategic priority is to ensure that when travellers think of the country, they immediately associate it with something distinctive - nature, heritage, adventure, authenticity, tranquillity and quality of experience.