Oman out to woo more high-end tourists

SINGAPORE – Oman is keen to woo more well-heeled tourists and business travellers, and is taking a cautious stance towards mass tourism. The undiscovered jewel of the Middle East is careful to maintain its pristine natural surroundings.

"We are not looking for numbers actually, we are a high end destination because

we believe the tourism product has to survive for generations to come and mass tourism destroys the country and its natural surroundings we are not in a position to sacrifice on this," Salim Bin Adey Al Mamari, director general of tourism promotions, Oman, said.

Representatives of the sultanate were in Singapore recently as part of its efforts to attract more tourists from Asia.

It may come as a surprise to many, but Oman is no stranger to Asia. In 2007, Oman received 1.2 million tourists. The number of passengers entering and exiting Oman through Muscat International Airport had increased by 20 per cent during the first seven months of the current year compared to the same period of the year 2007.