Incoming and Outgoing Passenger Survey: An Important Step Towards Developing Oman’s Tourism Sector

Introduction

Fieldwork for the Incoming and Outgoing Passenger Survey, conducted by the National Center for Statistics and Information in collaboration with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and the Royal Oman Police, commenced today. The survey aims to provide a broader picture of Oman’s tourism sector, provide reliable data to stakeholders, and support decision-makers in developing the sector.

Importance of the Survey

The tourism sector is one of the most important sectors in the Omani economy, contributing approximately 12% to the GDP. The Incoming and Outgoing Passenger Survey is an important step in developing this sector, as it will provide accurate data on the size and characteristics of tourists visiting Oman.

Survey Objectives

The survey aims to achieve the following objectives:

• Estimate the total number of tourists who visited Oman.
• Measure their demographic and economic characteristics.
• Understand the reality of Oman’s tourism sector.
• Develop appropriate plans to develop the sector.

Survey Methodology

The survey will be conducted on a sample of Omanis and residents arriving from a trip outside Oman, and a sample of departing passengers who visited Oman during different months of the year at Muscat International Airport, Salalah Airport, and land ports.

Expected Outcomes

The survey results are expected to contribute to achieving the following goals:

• Better understanding of the reality of Oman’s tourism sector.
• Identifying the challenges facing the sector.
• Developing appropriate plans to develop the sector.

Conclusion

The Incoming and Outgoing Passenger Survey is an important step in developing Oman’s tourism sector. The survey results are expected to contribute to developing appropriate plans to develop the sector and achieve further growth and prosperity.