Ministry of Tourism to open representative office in China

Ministry of Tourism to open representative office in China

Muscat – The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) is inviting international companies to establish a tourism representative office in China to attract Chinese travellers to the sultanate.

The move is part of the ministry’s comprehensive efforts to develop and revamp marketing plans and programmes aimed at promoting Oman’s tourism attractions through its global offices.

The primary goal of opening the office is to strengthen relations between local partners, including tourism companies and hotels, and their counterparts in the Chinese market, as highlighted by MHT. Interested parties have until August 1, 2023, to submit bids for consideration.

Recognising the resurgence of Chinese outbound tourism after a three-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Oman is proactively preparing to capitalise on the opportunity and cater to the needs of Chinese travellers. Chinese tourists curtailed international travel during the pandemic due to restrictions on their return home.

To equip partners in the Omani tourism sector to effectively engage with Chinese visitors and meet their specific requirements, MHT organised a workshop called ‘China Ready’ in September 2022. Emphasising the significance of the Chinese market, the ministry highlighted the growth in Chinese outbound travellers, which increased from approximately 57mn passengers in 2010 to 155mn in 2019.

‘Oman has witnessed