India top source market for tourists to Oman
MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman should make efforts to attract tourists from India, as a recent report indicated that the country's outbound tourism market is projected to reach $55 billion by 2034, expanding at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR).
The report stated that India's tourism industry is experiencing growth, fuelled by rising disposable incomes, a widening middle class and improved global connectivity.
According to Future Market Insights, demand for international travel in India is primarily driven by increasing demand for international travel, particularly among millennials seeking diverse experiences abroad.
Another study from STR suggests that India has increasingly become one of the most targeted source markets globally, with many destinations intensifying their efforts to attract Indian travellers.
It should be noted that the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has been discussing ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the tourism sector.
According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information, 88,647 Indian nationals arrived in the Sultanate of Oman in January this year, including 44,652 visitors, forming the second largest group of visitors after Emiratis at 82,600. The Sultanate of Oman is a preferred choice for 50 per cent of outbound Indian travellers who book less than 14 days before the travel date.
According to a report by the popular Indian travel portal MakeMyTrip.com last year, the maximum last-minute flight bookings were made for Oman, Nepal and the UAE. The report also mentioned that for outbound Indian travellers, around 56 per cent of international hotel bookings are made 14 days before the day of travel.
The South Indian state of Kerala is the most important when it comes to booking international flights on impulse, with 41 per cent of travellers from Kerala.
With most flight durations within two to four hours between Indian cities, the tourism potential is enormous for short vacations. Major Indian cities are well-served by Air India, Oman Air and budget airlines like SalamAir, Indigo and Air India Express.
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