Oman targets India to boost tourism numbers

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 as one of the most promising markets with a lot of Indians going globetrotting these days." In December, tourism operators said a record number of visitors flocked to Oman during the first two months. Figures from the ministry of tourism show Oman received 220,000 tourists in October and November, up 50 percent compared with the same period in 2010. A report from the tourism ministry forecast a rise of 35 percent in the number of visitors to the country in 2012. Oman hosted 1.12 million tourists between January and November in 2011.