Oman hotel revenues rise 17%

Occupancy rates reach record highs as visitor numbers climb 8.6%

Oman’s three- to five-star hotel sector has reached a record number of stays in the first four months of 2025, driven by a sharp rebound in international arrivals and targeted marketing campaigns. 

Hotel revenues surged to OMR 109.2 million (US$284 million), marking a 17.3% increase over the same period last year, according to the latest data from Oman’s National Centre for Statistics Information (NCSI).

This increase in revenue was largely thanks to a notable rise in the number of guests, which climbed 8.6% to reach 831,751 by the end of April 2025, up from 766,153 in 2024, with international visitors rising sharply.

Occupancy rates soared 61.1% in April, up from 53.4% a year earlier, representing a 14.4% rise and reaching record highs.  

Minister of Heritage and Tourism Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi credited the results to “aggressive campaigns in the last two years” and a focus on and investment in Oman’s natural beauty, heritage and adventure offerings. 

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Recent government initiatives include doubling down on promotional efforts in Europe and expanding campaigns in Asia and Oceania, supported by the opening of regional marketing offices, the results of which are evident in the numbers. 

European markets lead inbound growth, accounting for 40% of all guests and rising nearly 20% year-on-year to 314,535 visitors. Arrivals from the Americas rose 19.1%, but it was the emerging markets that showed the biggest hike, with visitors from Oceania registering the highest year-on-year increase of 57.8%. 

Expected to drive further growth is the roll-out of new flights between Oman and Europe this summer, including a new service connecting Muscat and Amsterdam. 

The sultanate is investing US$31 billion in tourism by 2040, with US$5.9 billion earmarked for new resorts and tourism projects, with a focus on adventure tourism and unique cultural attractions to differentiate Oman from its Gulf neighbours. 

Oman is already home to an array of three- to five-star hotels, including mountain resort Hotel Indigo Jabal Akhdar (main picture), five-star Mandarin Oriental Muscat and the St Regis Al Mouj Muscat Resort, with 40 new hotels set to open in the next two years, including resorts from Anantara and Nobu.

Oman plans to attract 6 million foreign tourists annually by 2030, almost double current numbers, and 12 million by 2040, with tourism expected to contribute 10% to GDP and create half a million jobs. 

For more information, visit ncsi.gov.om 

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