06 March 2014
Muscat: If hotels in Muscat are expensive, it is simply a reflection of the popularity of the destination, say key figures within Oman's tourism industry.
They were responding to a survey by Hotels.com's of prices across major destinations in the world, which found Muscat's hotels among the most expensive ones. The study particularly noted that Muscat was a destination where UK travellers paid the most after Monte Carlo in 2013.
Abdul Wahid Al Farsi, vice -president, external affairs, Omran, said, "It is all about the supply-demand ratio. We have a shortage of hotel rooms in Oman. Being a popular tourist destination, there is a lot of demand for rooms here. So you find that, especially during the peak season, the rates are high."
Omran, the Government of Oman's tourism development and investment agency, is overseeing the management of many hotels and resorts, and is currently developing a number of major projects. Oman's Ministry of Tourism recently announced that around 3,000 resorts and hotels will be ready by the end of 2014, to meet the increasing demand.
Al Farsi said it makes business sense for hotels to increase the tariff during the peak travel season since the flow of tourists dips slightly in summer.
Marius Wolmarans, general manager, Radisson Blu, said, "The leisure as well as corporate demand is consistently growing in Oman. This growth is faster than the pace at which new hotels are entering the market. Room tariffs are decided on a supply and demand basis, and in case of shortage of supply, rates do rise accordingly. It is evident in case of all new hotel projects in the country that there is a definite drive towards dealing with this shortage of supply."
Markus Iseli, the general manager at The Chedi Muscat, feels it is a part of experiencing the country. "At The Chedi Muscat, we pride ourselves on providing our guests with the highest level of service and enabling them to experience the best that Oman has to offer. Excellence in the field of hospitality and unforgettable experiences are key elements to any stay in Muscat," Markus said.
Stating that Muscat is a destination where tourists mix pleasure and business trips, Rabih Zein, general manager of Park Inn by Radisson Muscat Hotel, said, "It is value for money in a way since the country has its high and low seasons, not to mention the unpredictable weather, too. Park Inn by Radisson Muscat hotel bases the hotel rates accordingly and generates revenues. Most of the hotels in Muscat offer a lot of facilities, good service and hospitality where guests will remember and prefer to come back."
Muscat: If hotels in Muscat are expensive, it is simply a reflection of the popularity of the destination, say key figures within Oman's tourism industry.
They were responding to a survey by Hotels.com's of prices across major destinations in the world, which found Muscat's hotels among the most expensive ones. The study particularly noted that Muscat was a destination where UK travellers paid the most after Monte Carlo in 2013.
Abdul Wahid Al Farsi, vice -president, external affairs, Omran, said, "It is all about the supply-demand ratio. We have a shortage of hotel rooms in Oman. Being a popular tourist destination, there is a lot of demand for rooms here. So you find that, especially during the peak season, the rates are high."
Omran, the Government of Oman's tourism development and investment agency, is overseeing the management of many hotels and resorts, and is currently developing a number of major projects. Oman's Ministry of Tourism recently announced that around 3,000 resorts and hotels will be ready by the end of 2014, to meet the increasing demand.
Al Farsi said it makes business sense for hotels to increase the tariff during the peak travel season since the flow of tourists dips slightly in summer.
Marius Wolmarans, general manager, Radisson Blu, said, "The leisure as well as corporate demand is consistently growing in Oman. This growth is faster than the pace at which new hotels are entering the market. Room tariffs are decided on a supply and demand basis, and in case of shortage of supply, rates do rise accordingly. It is evident in case of all new hotel projects in the country that there is a definite drive towards dealing with this shortage of supply."
Markus Iseli, the general manager at The Chedi Muscat, feels it is a part of experiencing the country. "At The Chedi Muscat, we pride ourselves on providing our guests with the highest level of service and enabling them to experience the best that Oman has to offer. Excellence in the field of hospitality and unforgettable experiences are key elements to any stay in Muscat," Markus said.
Stating that Muscat is a destination where tourists mix pleasure and business trips, Rabih Zein, general manager of Park Inn by Radisson Muscat Hotel, said, "It is value for money in a way since the country has its high and low seasons, not to mention the unpredictable weather, too. Park Inn by Radisson Muscat hotel bases the hotel rates accordingly and generates revenues. Most of the hotels in Muscat offer a lot of facilities, good service and hospitality where guests will remember and prefer to come back."
© Times of Oman 2014
