Travel agents in Oman target five groups for Expo 2020 Dubai

Muscat: Five segments of people in Oman are being targeted by travel agents selling packages for Expo 2020 Dubai.

The expo begins on October 1, 2021 and is scheduled to run until March 31, 2022, having been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We believe there will be interest from primarily five segments: school students, those attending university, corporations, government bodies, and families,” said Cashio Vettom, the general manager for Khimji’s House of Travel, which has been authorised to sell tickets in Oman.

“The expo aims to provide us with the ideas that will inspire the next generations, so you will have concepts and perspectives that students are definitely going to be interested in,” he added. “Furthermore, this is going to hopefully influence public policy for decades as well, because of the themes on which Expo 2020 is centred, so government officials, particularly those interested in fields such as energy, transportation, communications and food security will find it interesting as well.”

Expo 2020 is based on three concepts: opportunity, mobility and sustainability, which are geared towards creating a planet that is sustainable for the coming generations. It features over 200 pavilions, 192 of which are to be set up by participating countries.

It is the first time in the history of global expos that countries will be organising their own pavilions. Visitors to the expo can enjoy immersive cultural experiences and discover what makes each nation unique.

“Travel and tourism have just begun to take off once again, and many families will be very keen on travelling to the expo, because they have been compelled to stay at home for the last 18 months or so, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Vettom.

“Let us not forget that the expo is in Dubai, which has many, many attractions for people, apart from the event itself,” he said. “It is advisable to book for more than a day’s visit to the expo, as there is no way you can see all of it at once.”

“This is a good opportunity for corporations as well, because any product that is being designed or policy that is undergoing research will need to be executed at least in part by the private sector,” he went on to say.

Packages for Expo 2020 offered by the travel agency include entry to the event and accommodation in Dubai. Based on the package selected by customers, other add-ons, such as airport transfers and city tours can be included, while the validity of the entry pass to the expo also varies between packages.

A package priced at OMR117 for two people for example includes three nights’ accommodation, airport transfers, a half-day Dubai tour, and a one-day pass to the expo. For OMR130, however, customers can book the self-drive package, which provides them a hire car, as well as multiple-day entries to the expo.

Those looking to stay longer can opt for the four nights-five days package, which also includes a five-day car hire, accommodation, and multiple-day expo tickets.

People who want to stay in a five-star accommodation and have a longer stay in Dubai can select the five nights-six day package, priced at OMR322 for two people.

“All of our packages are completely customisable,” said Vettom. “If you want to have just a three-day stay, but opt for two days at the Expo 2020, you can do that. If you want a five-star stay but want to visit Dubai for just three days that is also possible.”

“There are some people who might wish to travel by road, in which case they do not need to hire a car when they come here, so we can mix and match packages for people,” he added.

“We are already seeing good demand for expo bookings and expect to do well during this six-month period.”