Airline signs deal to create Oman's travel firm

Oman Air on Monday announced a new joint venture to create the country's largest travel firm and its first public/private partnership.The national carrier has joined forces with Bahwan Travel Agencies to promote inbound tourism to Oman and outbound holidays to destinations served by the national carrier's network.To be known as Oman Air Holidays (in partnership with Bahwan Travels), the deal will see the airline's Oman Air Holidays division integrate with Bahwan Tours for inbound holidays and with Bahwan Holidays for outbound holidays, sharing markets, personnel and systems, the airline said in a statement. Abdulrazaq Alraisi, Oman Air's chief commercial officer, said: "Oman Air is pleased to announce a historic partnership with Bahwan Travel Agencies, which will deliver even greater choice, quality and value for our customers around the world. "Working very closely with the Ministry of Tourism...Oman Air Holidays will showcase the Sultanate of Oman and every destination on the Oman Air network." The joint venture started with the flotation of a global tender by Oman Air early last year. Bahwan Travels was chosen from 25 bids from qualified companies from around the world. Shankar Bose, general manager, Bahwan Travel Consortium, added: "The company will reach out to every corner of the land, and to customers around the world, to deliver a great range of holidays within Oman and across Oman Air's network of exciting destinations. "In doing so, it will play a key part in building the capacity of the sultanate's tourism sector and positioning it at the highest international levels."