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Oman pitched as honeymoon and wedding venue [Times of Oman]
[October 25, 2014]

Oman pitched as honeymoon and wedding venue [Times of Oman]


(Times of Oman Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Muscat: With the kind of charm that no other place on earth can offer, Oman is all set to be the destination of choice not only for those planning to tie the knot but also for honeymooners.

According to reports, two large-scale weddings are due to take place in Oman — one by the end of this year and the other early next year.

"Marriage is a very emotional and crucial event in one's life. Everyone dreams of making it a highly cherished occasion. We have been able to sell the idea of Oman as a wedding venue to the new generation in India," said an official familiar with the developments.



Recently, a key strategy employed by Oman's Ministry of Tourism has been able to fruitfully engage wedding planners of India. The ministry had arranged trips for wedding planners to explore and feel Oman in all its splendour.

In addition to this, the ministry also participated in the Experiential Planner Business Luncheons organised by TMF Dialogue Marketing India at Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad, where ministry officials held successful meetings with leading wedding planners in India.


Last year, the ministry had also partnered with Thomas Cook (India) and Zahara Tours (Oman) whereby a stopover in Oman was offered free of cost to travellers as part of Thomas Cook India's premium European Group Tours.

"The ministry values the opportunity to run a tactical consumer campaign with Thomas Cook India, a highly respected brand in the Indian travel space, and is looking at a meaningful long-term relationship," said Maitha Al Mahrouqi, undersecretary of Ministry of Tourism.

In fact, over the four-year period since the ministry established its representative office in India in Mumbai, awareness about Oman as an exciting tour destination has picked up pace and Indians are increasingly flocking to the Sultanate for leisure tourism. Accordingly, the ministry has significantly increased the budget spend on its India operations.

"The budget has registered a rise of over 35 per cent over the last year," said Lubaina Sheerazi, India representative of the Oman Ministry of Tourism.

"The perception about Oman has changed significantly through awareness projects, and now people view Oman not just as a business destination but a leisure/wedding destination and also as a great location for film shoots," added Lubaina.

Continuing with its engagement with the highly lucrative Indian market, the ministry, through its representative office in India, also brought a 60-member delegation of Indian travel agents and operators on a tour of the Sultanate under the 'Discover Oman Specialist Training Programme' in September.

The team visited a diverse list of tourist spots, including Muscat, Nizwa, Sharqiyah Sands, Sur and Ras Al Jinz.

With a series of B2B meetings allowing them to network with key players in the hospitality and tourism sector of Oman, the 'Discover Oman' tour spanning six days and five nights helped the travel specialists effectively promote the Sultanate among leisure travellers from India.

Another growth area is MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) and in fact the representative office participated in the MICE Travel Mart in Mumbai recently. It is considering targeting tier-II cities of Ahmedabad, Pune and Hyderabad in the near future.

The ministry is also using social media platforms like Facebook to connect with Indians.

The Oman Tourism, India Facebook page is liked by thousands of prospective Indian travellers. Soon, a Twitter handle will be launched, revealed sources.

The Ministry of Tourism has been exploring all options to market Oman as the ideal tourist destination globally as well.

The ministry has also hosted a number of global tour operators especially from the United States of America and German speaking countries, with a view to familiarising them with the land, people and culture of Oman and its highly developed hospitality and infrastructure sectors.

The ministry is banking on online technologies to connect with tourists. According to ministry officials, a webinar has been planned to spread word about Oman among people who know nothing significant about what the Sultanate has to offer to the discerning tourists.

(c) 2014 Muscat Press and Publishing House SAOC Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

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