11/08/2019 16:17

Oman Plan To Accommodate Tourists in “Floating Hotels”

[IMG=20609-6386] In season 2007 Oman plan to initiate ‘floating hotels’ and to accommodate tourists on cruise liners moored in the port. The project was discussed at the meeting of the Minister of Tourism of Oman with the leading tour operators of the country and was presented as an alternative accommodation in high season, Oman Daily Observer reported. However, Russian tour operators that work in the Omani travel market, interviewed by a BANKO correspondent, expressed skepticism towards the initiative. Thus, Georgy Leontiev, Marketing Director of Collage Service, commented: ‘’hotel’ problem in Oman really exists, but cruise liners will hardly improve the situation. Russian tourists are not acquainted to such type of accommodation. Besides, Oman is not a mass-market destination. Therefore, Russians traveling to the country choose 5* hotels which can not be compared to economy-class accommodation on liners in relatively small cabins’. Furthermore, tour operators emphasize the situation with the shortage of hotel rooms in Oman will get even worse – on January 1st the biggest Omani hotel Al Bustan Palace will be closed for reconstruction. What is the way out? Georgy Leontiev, believes ‘hotels should be booked in advance. For example, companies that seriously promote Oman in the Russian market already bought blocks of rooms upon the conditions of full prepayment for the New Year period in some Omani hotels. Of course, they do it on their own risk, but the destination is expected to be a success’. Olga Ivanovich, Senior Manager of the Arab Department of Alto Sol, added: ‘I would not risk to book accommodation on liners even in case of very attractive prices. My position is dictated not by the cost of in-country services (the most of expensive ‘component’ of a tour package is a flight – 700$) but by lack of interest of Russian tourists in ‘floating hotels’. Similar practice in Emirates showed that the variant is prospectless for the Russian market’. Meanwhile, Russian tour operators point out ‘floating hotels’ might be in demand of tourists from other countries and by corporate clients traveling in big groups.