Saturday 16 / November / 2024
Muscat: Oman’s Ministry of Tourism has signed agreements with Russia, China and Iran to speed up visa processes, an official said in a presentation made at Get Connected, a forum held to promote tourism in Oman.
Read also: OMR1.8b investment expected in Oman tourism sector by 2020
“The Ministry has already signed agreements with the immigration offices to facilitate visas for Russia, China and Iran. Hotels ranging from three to five stars and tour operators will be able to process visas for groups coming from the above said countries,” a power point presentation shown at the forum revealed.
Last week, Ahmed bin Nasser bin Hamad Al Mehrzi, Minister of Tourism, told Times of Oman that OMR60 million has been set aside for tourism projects over the next three years.
The minister had said that the funds were released to diversify Oman’s economy as part of Vision 2040, the government drive to rid Oman of its dependency on oil revenue.
“We were supposed to receive the money last year, but as you know, the economic crisis prevented that from happening,” Al Mehrzi had said adding that this year, however, they have reached an agreement with the international parties and the ministry of finance has given us the funds we need.
“We have 15 projects for tourism planned, and this year alone, we have OMR16 million for our programmes, with a total of OMR60 million allocated to us until 2020,” he added.
Al Mehrzi emphasised that the Sultanate’s ability to transform itself into a tourism hotspot centred on the differences between Oman and the other Arab nations.
