28 May 2015
MUSCAT: Under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Tourism, Muriya Tourism Development, Oman's leading Tourism Company, recently hosted over 400 representatives from German tour operators, travel agents and service providers during the FTI Destination Pro Conference.
The event was held at the 5-star Salalah Rotana Resort, the company's latest addition to its Salalah Beach destination after the 82-room Juweira Boutique Hotel. The delegates experienced what Oman and the Governorate of Dhofar have to offer to the 20,000 tourists expected to arrive at Salalah International Airport on board four weekly charter flights from Germany between this September and May 2016.
As part of Muriya's strategy to support the government's strong efforts to grow the tourism sector, the company brought the event to the Sultanate for the first time in collaboration with FTI Worldwide, Germany's fourth largest travel operator. FTI started the charter service to Salalah International Airport during the last quarter of 2013 with Meeting Point Oman that successfully handled all ground services.
The annual conference discussed the most popular destinations on the radar of German and European holidaymakers and in its fourth edition; the focus was on Dhofar as a destination. The participation of key industry players included ReiseLand Company, a German chain of over 300 travel agencies and RTK travel agency group, Germany's largest cooperation network with 3,000 independent travel agents.
"Making the Governorate of Dhofar the focus of one of the leading international tourism events and bringing a host of industry experts to experience its unique offerings to leisure and business tourists are vital steps towards the expansion and diversification of the tourism industry in Oman. Maximising the potential of Dhofar as one of the upcoming and most sought-after destinations in both the regional and global markets is a priority for us," said Ahmed Dabbous, CEO of Muriya Tourism Development.
"What started as a Muriya initiative in late 2013 of bringing one weekly charter flight from Germany to Salalah International Airport has turned into a wider initiative serving the entire tourism sector in Dhofar.
With four flights inbound weekly; tourist arrivals have grown exponentially leading to higher occupancy rates at all hotels and resorts in the governorate."
Khalid bin Musallam al Rawas, Director General of the Directorate General of Tourism in Dhofar, said, "Bringing this conference to Oman is vital towards growing inbound tourism and attracting increased numbers of international arrivals from European and German markets. The Ministry of Tourism's sponsorship of this activity is in line with its strategy to promote Oman to the world and specifically the Governorate of Dhofar as a unique year-round destination."
Developed by Muriya within its Salalah Beach Destination, the 400-room Salalah Rotana Resort is designed to accommodate travellers of all types and the hotel's hospitality offering includes various leisure and business facilities for an all-encompassing experience. In addition to expanding the number of German tourist arrivals, Muriya has also been focusing on the Italian market with two weekly charter flights arriving from Milan to Salalah International Airport, as well as one weekly flight from Sweden.
MUSCAT: Under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Tourism, Muriya Tourism Development, Oman's leading Tourism Company, recently hosted over 400 representatives from German tour operators, travel agents and service providers during the FTI Destination Pro Conference.
The event was held at the 5-star Salalah Rotana Resort, the company's latest addition to its Salalah Beach destination after the 82-room Juweira Boutique Hotel. The delegates experienced what Oman and the Governorate of Dhofar have to offer to the 20,000 tourists expected to arrive at Salalah International Airport on board four weekly charter flights from Germany between this September and May 2016.
As part of Muriya's strategy to support the government's strong efforts to grow the tourism sector, the company brought the event to the Sultanate for the first time in collaboration with FTI Worldwide, Germany's fourth largest travel operator. FTI started the charter service to Salalah International Airport during the last quarter of 2013 with Meeting Point Oman that successfully handled all ground services.
The annual conference discussed the most popular destinations on the radar of German and European holidaymakers and in its fourth edition; the focus was on Dhofar as a destination. The participation of key industry players included ReiseLand Company, a German chain of over 300 travel agencies and RTK travel agency group, Germany's largest cooperation network with 3,000 independent travel agents.
"Making the Governorate of Dhofar the focus of one of the leading international tourism events and bringing a host of industry experts to experience its unique offerings to leisure and business tourists are vital steps towards the expansion and diversification of the tourism industry in Oman. Maximising the potential of Dhofar as one of the upcoming and most sought-after destinations in both the regional and global markets is a priority for us," said Ahmed Dabbous, CEO of Muriya Tourism Development.
"What started as a Muriya initiative in late 2013 of bringing one weekly charter flight from Germany to Salalah International Airport has turned into a wider initiative serving the entire tourism sector in Dhofar.
With four flights inbound weekly; tourist arrivals have grown exponentially leading to higher occupancy rates at all hotels and resorts in the governorate."
Khalid bin Musallam al Rawas, Director General of the Directorate General of Tourism in Dhofar, said, "Bringing this conference to Oman is vital towards growing inbound tourism and attracting increased numbers of international arrivals from European and German markets. The Ministry of Tourism's sponsorship of this activity is in line with its strategy to promote Oman to the world and specifically the Governorate of Dhofar as a unique year-round destination."
Developed by Muriya within its Salalah Beach Destination, the 400-room Salalah Rotana Resort is designed to accommodate travellers of all types and the hotel's hospitality offering includes various leisure and business facilities for an all-encompassing experience. In addition to expanding the number of German tourist arrivals, Muriya has also been focusing on the Italian market with two weekly charter flights arriving from Milan to Salalah International Airport, as well as one weekly flight from Sweden.
© Oman Daily Observer 2015
