Oman attracted more than 300,000 cruise passengers from October last year to June this year, compare that to the 2003 season when the number of cruise passenger arrivals was just 3,500.
As reported in the Oman Times a tidal wave of tourists has seen Oman’s cruise industry grow 9900 per cent in a decade, and in the coming season alone it’s expected to grow another 50 per cent on last year with up to 450,000 visitors predicted to sail into the Sultanate.
For the coming 2014/2015 season, Khimji Ramdas, one of the biggest shipping agents in the country, said they alone are set to receive around 300,000 tourists from across the world.
The cruise season started on October 18 when Seabourn Odyssey reached Salalah and will come to end on June 13, 2015 when CS Sea Princess leaves Muscat.
Two luxury liners, Minerva and Seven Seas Voyager, called in to Port Sultan Qaboos on Tuesday with a total of 768 passengers on board them.
Minerva belongs to Al Leisure Group of United Kingdom company, registered in The Bahamas, with a length of 135 metres.
It arrived from Salalah and its next port of call is Porbandar in India.
The Seven Seas Voyager belongs to Regent Seven Seas Cruises, registered in Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas, with a length of 207 metres. It arrived from Salalah and its next port of call will be Dubai, according to statement from Port Services Corporation.
The cruise ship business is giving a tremendous boost to the tourism industry in Oman and benefits hotels, tour operators and tour guides. It makes money for the bazaars, restaurants, high end shops and taxis.
Passenger traffic is projected to grow a hefty 26.8 per cent this year with Khimji Ramdas.
Besides Muscat, dubbed as the ‘Norway of Arabia’, Khasab and Salalah are set to receive huge number of tourists this year.
Khasab received 45 port calls by cruise liners during the winter season in 2013 whilst the number of tourists stood at 68,278, which was an increase of 17 per cent over the last season.
Even the Port of Salalah is also saw a slight increase in port calls in 2013.
The number of cruise vessels that visited the port in 2013 was 34, while 33 cruise vessels visited in 2012.
Till April 2014, the port received 21 calls and handled 19,125 passengers.
Omani’s are also more and more interested to go on a cruise- so the interest is based on common goals and opportunities.