Das Sultanat konzentriert sich auf den Ausbau der Tourismusbranche. Omans Reise-und Tourismusbranche soll bis 2015 über 20.000 Arbeitsplätze verfügen. Der Beitrag zum Bruttoinlandsprodukt (BIP) soll gemäß des Ministeriums für Tourismus im Jahr 2015 bei mehr als drei Prozent liegen.
Tourism sector jobs to touch 20,000 by 2015
As the sultanate focuses on expanding the contribution from the tourism industry to its economy, Oman's travel and tourism industry is expected to support 20,000 jobs directly and provide a more than three per cent contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) by 2015, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
On the other hand, a recent report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that the industry would support 35,000 direct jobs and 74,000 total jobs this year. By 2021, travel and tourism will account for 50,000 jobs directly, the report said.
Amina Abdullah al Balushi, director of statistics and geographical information at the Ministry of Tourism, said the WTTC forecasts seem to have been overestimated.
"Until 2009, the total jobs in the sector was around 16,000 and we expect it to cross 20,000 by 2015. The contribution of tourism to GDP as well as to employment in the country is growing at a good pace on the back of government investments in the sector. The new projects on which government is focusing will drive the growth in the coming years."
"The direct contribution of the tourism and travel sector to GDP was 2.9 per cent in 2009 and we expect it to be more than three per cent by 2015. However, we do not have data on tourism's indirect contribution to the GDP," she added.
According to the WTTC report, the direct contribution of travel and tourism to GDP is expected to be RO743mn (three per cent of total GDP) in 2011, and will rise 5.4 per cent annually to reach RO1.25bn (3.3 per cent of GDP) in the next ten years. The report said that the total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP is twice as large as its direct contribution.
The direct contribution of the tourism and travel industry primarily reflects the economic activity generated by industries such as hotels, travel agents, airlines and other passenger transportation services for tourists.
It also includes the activities of the restaurant and leisure industries directly supported by tourists. The total contribution of travel and tourism to Oman's GDP, including its wider economic impacts, is forecasted to be RO1.7bn (6.8 per cent of GDP) in 2011.
According to WTTC, Oman is expected to attract 1.2mn international tourist arrivals in 2011.