What’s new in Oman?
Oman is a happening hotspot, buzzing with new hotels, new airports, and stacks of fresh attractions to entice travellers to visit.
We unpack all the latest developments from the opulent Oman.
New Salalah Airport
Salalah Airport – Oman’s newest – opens in Oman’s southern Dhofar region in time to service the Salalah Tourism Festival. The airport will cater to the two million annual local, regional & international visitors.
Known as the ‘Eden at the edge of the desert’, Salalah is one of Oman’s best kept secrets. The charming and historic coastal city is famed for its mild temperatures, untouched beaches and the finest frankincense in the world.
Oman Air operates eight services a day between Muscat and Salalah, increasing to 13 a day during the Khareef season. There are also daily, direct Oman Air services to/from neighbouring Dubai.
Qatar Airways flies directly from Doha to Salalah daily which can be booked as part of the affordable oneworld Visit Middle East airpass.
The Salalah Tourism Festival takes place during the Khareef from 23 July to 31 August. The festival attracts local and foreign tourists seeking milder summer weather with average daytime temperatures of only 29 degrees.
Hotels
The Sultanate of Oman has quietly developed a portfolio of iconic resort and hotel properties in recent years.
Building on landmark properties like Six Senses Zighy Bay with its infamous paragliding arrival option, Muscat’s Al Bustan Palace – a Ritz Carlton hotel, Shangri-La’s Barr al Jissah Resort & Spa (a three-resorts-in-one offering), and The Chedi Muscat have all emerged as exciting properties for the destination.
Other recent noteworthy developments include the stunning Alila Jabal Akhdar high up in the mountains two hours from Muscat, Sifawy Boutique Hotel on the Gulf of Oman, 45km from Muscat, and Juweira Boutique Hotel on the beach in Salalah in the south of Oman.
And as Oman’s tourism popularity increases, more resorts and hotels are due to come online in the months and years ahead to satisfy demand.
Opening at the end of 2015 is the 115-key Anantara Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, which will be the brand’s first property in Oman, and to be followed by Anantara Al Baleed Resort opening in Salalah in the south of Oman in 2016.
Alila Hotels and Resorts announced its plans to open its second resort property, Alila Salalah.
Starwood’s W Hotel Muscat is due to launch in early 2017.
The renowned Jumeirah group has developments underway with the planned opening of one of their two key properties in 2016.
Even Club Med and Banyan Tree is looking at Salalah for a resort development there.
Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre
The brand new Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre is rising grandly from the landscape and is due to host its first major exhibition in February 2016. Expectations are that OCEC will attract some 200,000 delegates/visitors in 2016.
Just 4km from Muscat Airport, the exhibition centre will be ready by December 2016, with a famil scheduled for late October.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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