Oman has introduced a new policy that allows tourists from over 100 countries to enter the country without a visa for up to 14 days, in a bid to boost its tourism industry. The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has published a list of eligible countries, which includes a diverse range of nations from around the world.
Several countries including Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Georgia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Belgium, Romania, Slovenia, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Cyprus, Ukraine, Spain, Czech Republic, Austria, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Poland, Slovakia, France, Netherlands, Venezuela, Colombia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Thailand, South Africa, Russia, China, the United States of America, Turkey, South Korea, New Zealand, Iran, Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Canada, Malaysia, and Singapore, allow for entry into Oman. Indian tourists are also eligible for a visa on arrival if they possess an entry visa from the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Schengen countries, Japan, or have a resident permit from one of the GCC countries and work in an approved profession as specified by the Oman government.
In recent years, Oman has made significant efforts to develop its tourism industry, in an attempt to diversify its economy and decrease its dependence on oil revenues. In addition to visa-free entry and visa-on-arrival options, Oman has been actively improving its infrastructure and creating new tourism attractions, such as luxury resorts, museums, and heritage sites. These efforts have received international recognition, with various organizations ranking Oman as one of the top travel destinations in the Middle East and North Africa region.
According to a representative of the ROP, visitors from 103 countries are now able to prolong their visa-free stay in Oman beyond 14 days by paying an additional fee. Following this period, tourists from these countries must apply online for an e-visa, costing OMR20, for a duration of one month.
Visitors from these countries may also apply for a multi-entry visa for a year, provided their stay on each visit does not exceed one month, and certain criteria are met. This decision was taken to boost Oman’s tourism sector, resulting in a 348 percent increase in tourists in 2022 compared to 2021.
By the end of January 2023, 3-5 star hotels in Oman reported a rise in revenue by 50.8 percent, amounting to OMR20.79 million, compared to the same period in 2022. Additionally, the occupancy rate increased by 31.3 percent, reaching 53.7 percent compared to 40.9 percent during the same period in 2022, with 173,313 guests staying in 3-5 star hotels, a 65 percent increase compared to the same period in 2022. Oman has also observed an upsurge in domestic tourism, with numerous festivals taking place across the governorates, co-hosted by Omran and the governorate offices.
