These recognitions have prompted the government and public sectors to intensify preparations for tourism-related events and developments for the New Year via the formation of a committee to plot the tourism itinerary for 2012. The Oman Ministry of Tourism aims to increase the GDP contribution of tourism from 2% in 2011 to around 3.5% in 2015 and is eyeing a 10 per cent growth for the sector in 2012.

Meanwhile, Oman's capital Muscat has been ranked the second best city in the world to visit in 2012 by 'Lonely Planet,' the popular travel guide publisher affiliated with the British Broadcasting...

Teens invited into the creative process behind the Coca-Cola Move to the Beat™ campaign

In the summer of 2011, Coca-Cola lifted the lid on the creative process for the first time ever, inviting teens to attend a free festival-style gig featuring GRAMMY award-winning producer Mark Ronson and Mercury Music Prize Nominee Katy B. The gig was filmed and today Coca-Cola is"...

Minister of Tourism, Antiquities and Wildlife, Ghazi Al-Sadiq Abdul Rahim, said Saturday his Ministry is determined to organize a workshop intended to improve performance and boost tourism in the country.

“The aim of the workshops is to achieve coordination and joint work to improve the tourism sector,” the Minister said, citing lack of tourism infrastructure"...

Qatar's hospitality sector will come into focus at the third Doha Food Festival which this year offers four gold medals to competing chefs from participating restaurants, hotels and cafes at a unique Black Box contest lined up by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) for the four-day event starting February 8 at the Doha Exhibition Centre (DEC). Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) QTA Local Exhibitions Co-ordinator Hamad Al Khaja said, "We have planned a unique and competitive mystery Black Box contest, on each of the four days, for chefs from all the participating hotels and restaurants." The uniqueness...

Saudi Arabia is building its first stadium especially designed to allow women who are currently barred from attending soccer matches because of the kingdom's strict public gender segregation to watch games.

The stadium in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah is scheduled to be completed in 2014 and will have private cabins and balconies to accommodate female spectators, according to Al Sharq, a state-owned newspaper.
"Sources close the stadium said more than 15 percent of the facility will be allocated for families when the facility is fully completed in 2014. Besides families, female journalists...

Hilton Worldwide and PT Nurtirta Nusa Lestari Sign Management Agreement to Open DoubleTree by Hilton Jakarta-Diponegoro in 2014

Hilton Worldwide today signed a management agreement with PT Nurtirta Nusa Lestari to bring the first DoubleTree by Hilton property to Indonesia. Scheduled to open in 2014, the 261-room DoubleTree by Hilton Jakarta-Diponegoro, Indonesia will be conveniently located two kilometers"......

Starwood Preferred Guest Launches Richest Elite Traveler Benefits in History Including 24-Hour Check-in, One-to-One Starwood Ambassador and Lifetime Status

Services Aimed at Small but Powerful Group Who Drive 30% of the Company’s Profit

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) is raising the stakes in the hotel loyalty landscape to win greater share from the world’s most prolific travelers, a powerful and"......

Al Hamra village is enjoying a total occupancy of approximately 84% and the coming year is set to see more new developments with the completion of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel at Al Hamra Palace and the expansion at Al Hamra Mall.

Apart from the residential comforts, Al Hamra Village also provides attractions such as the Al Hamra Fort Hotel & Beach Resort, Banyan Tree beach Resort, Al Hamra Palace Hotel & Resort, Al Hamra Golf Club, Al Hamra Marina & Royal Yacht Club, Al Hamra Mall as well as several restaurants.

The Royal Breeze Residence, at phase three of Al Hamra...

Oman is embarking on a four-city roadshow in India next month in a bid to encourage more Indians to choose the Gulf sultanate as a luxury holiday destination.

Oman Tourism's roadshow will start in Mumbai on February 3 before moving on to Bengalura on the 6th, Chennai the following day and Delhi on February 8.

Lubaina Sheerazi, India representative of the Ministry of Tourism, Oman, said: "We are conducting these roadshows to educate the Indian travel trade on the potential of Oman being an ideal destination for clients looking for luxurious short haul vacations.

"We see India...

Total passenger traffic, including transit and transfer passengers, through Muscat International Airport increased by 13 per cent to 6,479,860 passengers for the period ending December 2011, compared to 5,751,516 passengers for the same period of 2010.

Statistics from the Air Transport Department at the Civil Aviation Affairs at the Transport and Communications Ministry show passenger arrival rose 15 per cent, to 3,276,650, for the period ending December 2011, compared to 2,840,906 passengers for the same period of 2010. The number of departing passengers increased by 12 per cent...