Times of Oman | News :: Tourism summit for nationalgrowth to held in December

timesofoman.com /News/42039/Article-Tourism-summit-for-national-growth-to-held-in-December

Muscat: Held under the theme - 'Investments in Oman's Tourism Sector towards propelling NationalGrowth', the Oman Tourism Summit will be held alongside ITHS 2014 on December 14 and 15, 2014.

The Summit, which will be held at the Oman International Exhibition Centre from 10am to 2pm, putsinvestment and development opportunities in the spotlight, discussing the industry's trends andoutlook presented by renowned professionals and industry experts in various aspects.

Led by the Ministry of Tourism, Oman is actively being promoted as a luxury and well-beingdestination internationally, and is an emerging attraction for wedding, MICE & film tourism within theIndian market.

India's Ambassador to Oman, J.S. Mukul, as a guest of honour and speaker at the Summit, willelaborate on the role of India-Oman ties in promoting the tourism sector. The UNWTO has rated theIndian market as one that is bound to be a major outbound nation in the coming years, making it apotential market for tourism opportunities.

The tourism sector in Oman has various development opportunities in several areas, includingOmanisation, services and quality, promotion, immigration and transport.

To explore them, Pankaj Kanaksi Khimji, partner director, Khimji Ramdas LLC will provide Summitattendees with a 360 degree perspective on the tourism sector also covering opportunities andchallenges to be unlocked. Attendees will see through the eyes and intelligence of the speaker whereto invest and capitalize for their business growth. Nearing completion in 2016, the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre is opening new horizonsfor the MICE sector. Oman is being positioned as a unique tourist destination that has the ability tocombine leisure offerings to business tourists by upgrading the experience of exhibitors and visitors.

This will encourage local and international organisers to host high level events, conferences,meetings and international exhibitions. In this regard, Trevor McCartney, general manager, OmanConvention & Exhibition Centre will point out the strategy for enabling MICE tourism investments andthe role of the upcoming convention centre. The Ministry of Tourism's marketing strategy aims to promote Oman internationally as a qualitydestination for tourists and spread tourism benefits across the Sultanate of Oman. The ministry'svarious programmes showcase Oman as a preferred location for business, trade, tourism and living.

Fabio Scacciavillani, chief economist, Oman Investment Fund (OIF) in placing Oman on the globaltourism map, will determine where Oman stands with regard to regional and international tourism. Martin Kubler FIH, International Hospitality and service industries consultant, lecturer, columnist andinnovation specialist, will explain how given the right strategy and management, Oman can gain acrucial competitive advantage in the local and regional online space when it comes to attracting newand retaining existing tourism business in his topic Destination 2.0 - Digital Travellers and theDestination Oman: Engaging travellers in an 'Always-On' culture. Filippo Sona, director, Head of Hotels (MENA Region), Colliers International will offer 'A hoteldevelopment perspective for developing business tourism for 2020' highlighting the extent of demandfor mid-market hotels, serviced apartments and MICE within business travel, new opportunities forinvestments as well as the mix that facilities owners should be building in order to attract morebusiness travellers to the region.

Oman registered solid tourism growth in the first half of the year with more than one millioninternational tourists visiting the country. One of the proactive measures of the government to ensuregrowth of the travel and tourism sector includes plans to increase the number of international

airports.

Along these lines, Saeed K. Al Zadjally, acting CEO / GM – technical services, Oman AirportsManagement Company will highlight the impact of operational readiness of new and upcomingairports on boosting tourism for the Sultanate.

Garry Friend, general manager, Grand Hyatt Muscat is a confirmed panellist for the panel discussionwhich will be taking place at the Summit.