OMAN Travel Mart (OTM) generated more than 8,000 footfalls over the three days of the event which, this year, attracted new exhibitors from across the globe.
The OITE-organised trade fair, which took place at Oman International Exhibition Centre in May, was inaugurated by Ahmed Sulaiman Saleh Al Maimani, undersecretary for administrative, financial and regional affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The event provided a platform for outbound tourism organisations to promote their services to the fast-growing tourism market in Oman with more than 50 companies representing the travel and tourism sector and new exhibitors from Italy, Germany, Indonesia, India, Turkey, Thailand, Iran, the UAE and Oman.
First-time participant, the southern Italian region of Puglia, was one of the most visited stands, not only by Omanis interested in new travel destinations but also by entrepreneurs looking for potential partnerships with Italy.
And Oman Tourism College also got together with the Italian Embassy in Muscat, to promote new courses for its students and promote the country.
“We are pleased with OTM as it provided us with a good window to the sultanate’s business potential. We look forward to being back in Oman in the near future,” said Caterina Carannante, operations director at Langworth which promotes Puglia.
Another exhibitor debuting at OTM this year was Munich Airport. Florian Potsch, business division aviation head of incoming and hub marketing said: “The non-stop flight between Muscat and Munich since October has helped promote tourism between the two countries. The feedback we generated was good and positive. Our main goal was to generate awareness about Munich and Bavaria as prime destinations for leisure travellers and medical tourists from Oman.”
Besides showcasing inbound and outbound travel, OTM 2010 also highlighted medical tourism featuring medical speciality centres from Iran, India and Thailand.
According to Aqeel Bokisha, consultant to the chief executive at exhibitor Bangkok Hospital Medical Centre: “There are 60,000 Omanis visiting Thailand a year and 141,000 from the UAE seeking medical treatment.”
Dr Rostam Sowlat, of Shiraz Medical Hospital in Iran, said: “Iran’s medical facilities are popular among Omanis who visit for laparoscopic surgery and infertility treatments. With this event, we hope to build a network with local medical centres here in Muscat.”
Peter Hill, Oman Air’s chief executive officer said: “Oman Air supports this event as a sponsor with the objective of seizing the valuable opportunity to promote our summer holidays designed to attract more holidaymakers from the GCC, European and Asian countries to Oman. OTM is our platform to promote our recently launched destinations.”
Among the campaigns highlighted was ‘Now is the time’ which offers special summer deals for Europeans including high-quality, week-long accommodation and return flight packages to the sultanate, over the summer months.
Showcased during the event were the airline’s new summer destinations including Kuala Lumpur, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Ain, Lahore, Islamabad, Dar Es Salam and Kathmandu as well as Milan, which will be added during the winter schedule.