Oman’s multi-billion dollar construction industry to boost tourism
Active projects in Oman are predicted to attract 12 million visitors by 2020
Oman’s active construction projects, including aUS$1 billion tourist resort in Salalah and a US$1 billion Oman Conference and Exhibition Centre in Muscat, are forecast to substantially boost the country’s tourism industry.
Eyeing a potential 20 million visitors by 2020, the country’s construction industry has been growing at a rate of 8.7% since 2008 with the active and future projects most recently valued to reach $27 billion by 2014.
The high values are underpinned by cross-industry infrastructure projects – including aviation – and high worth tourism projects.
The key decision makers behind the Duqm projects, announced at last year’s Oman Construciton Summit, met on January 29 to discuss the progress made to date and plans for 2012.
“Oman received some 1.6 million tourists in 2010 and Oman’s Ministry of Tourism aims to increase this figure to an ambitious 12 million per annum by 2020. Such aspirations clearly show the country’s goal to develop as a major tourist and business destination,” said Mark Walsh, group exhibition director for Reed Travel Exhibitions, which is currently hosting the Arabian Travel Market exhibition.
