Oman Travel Mart opens today

The country's international travel and tourism exhibition of the year, OTM will run until 19th February 2009 featuring outbound and inbound tourism, medical tourism as well as property and investment tourism opportunities. Oman Air is the event's lead sponsor.

Mr. Ahmed Saleh Baabood, Chairman of Oman International Trade and Exhibitions (OITE), the event's organizer, said "OTM shows the vibrancy of the travel and tourism industry amidst the global economic downturn. Although tourism experts view 2009 to be tough and a challenging year, the industry remains optimistic and continues to make strong efforts to overcome current economic challenges.

"OTM is a timely event that opens various business potential in Oman and across the region. The event energizes the industry and the economy and creates new opportunities for the market. For six consecutive years, OTM has been playing an important role in the growth and development of the country's travel and tourism industry".

Inbound and outbound tourism showcase

Oman is now becoming a top-class holiday destination for holidaymakers worldwide and is listed among the top 10 in Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2009 Guide. OTM provides unrivaled opportunity for inbound and outbound tourism. Leading travel and tourism companies such as the Musandam Sea Adventure, Desert Nights Camp, Turtle Beach Resorts, Al-Sawadi Beach Resort, Al Hoota Cave, SAF Museum, Ocean Boats Dive Center, Zahara Holidays, Marisol LLC, Majan Light Travel & Tourism, Seven Star Aviation Services, and Mazoon Travel featuring Sri Lankan Holidays, among others take centre stage at this year's event, offering special tour packages for travel and leisure enthusiasts.

OTM is likewise participated in by the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Heritage and Culture, the Public Authority for Crafts Industry, and foreign tourism industries from various countries including Malaysia, India, Thailand, Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia among others, with an aim to attract the rapid and growing lucrative markets in the Sultanate and across the Gulf region.

Medical tourism

Medical tourism is a new concept in this year's OTM. According to Nick Hodge, Managing Director of OITE, "Medical tourism has gone significantly in the past ten years. In times of economic hardship, this sector has seen a lot of activity with an increasing impact on the healthcare sector. Rising healthcare costs has meant that a growing number of people fly to countries such as Singapore, India and Malaysia to seek cost effective, medical treatment. These countries are now popular destinations for medical tourism, with state-of the art facilities and highly-skilled medical specialists".

Healthcare companies participating at OTM include the International Medical Specialty Centre, Steps National Company, Bangkok Hospital Medical Center, and Sri Ramachandra Hospital, among others.

Property and investment tourism opportunities

The Sultanate is now making headway towards the Vision 2020, with numerous tourism integrated projects now being implemented and in the pipeline. Oman has over 20 hotels proposed for construction in the next 2-5 years. The travel and tourism industry, having played a significant role in the government's diversification strategy, has now emerged as one of the most buoyant non-oil sectors. It generates greater employment opportunities and actively attracts foreign direct investment. Oman's integrated tourism projects and strong campaign to diversify has positioned itself on the world's tourism map.

OTM brings together property and investment tourism companies showcasing property developments including The Dhofar Tourism Company, featuring The Mirbat Beach Project, Shanfari Group of Hotels, Safeer Hotels & Tourism Co., InterContinental Hotels Group and Oman Hotels & Tourism Co; amongst others.

Hospitality and travel

The hospitality sector is part of the growth of tourism in Oman. Companies such as Golden Tulips Hotels-Oman, Shamharam Tourist Resort, the new Shanfari Guest House, Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay, Ramee Group of Hotels & Resorts LLC, Muzn Al Fala LLC, Ramada Muscat Hotel, IHG Oman - Al Bustan Palace Intercontinental Muscat, Muttrah Hotel, Safeer Hotel & Tourism Co, Golden Oasis Hotel, Majan Continental Hotel, Park Inn Hotel, Crystal Hotel Apartments, Golden Sands Hotel Apartments, and Crown Muscat Int'l, among others will converge under roof.

Leading tour operators such as Emirates Cars LLC, Dollar Rent a Car, among others, likewise are displaying to the market.

Education tourism

Oman Tourism College, the country's finest institution with international recognition leads the education tourism sector providing young undergraduates with the education in the tourism and hospitality industry; thereby meeting the needs of the marketplace, creating job opportunities and building careers.

Software solutions

Furthermore, OTM also puts the spotlight to various innovative software solutions especially designed for the travel and tourism industry. TechTuners Software & Services presents a complete range of software solutions, especially designed for the travel and tourism industry with a special focus on its 'All in one reservation system' called T-Res 2.0 - a system that can be customized to suit unique business requirements.

OTM provides the travel and tourism industry in the country and across the region with a greater opportunity to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business in a single platform and capitalize on the rapidly growing opportunities.