MUSCAT : According to data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), tourism’s contribution to GDP at current prices increased from 2.6 percent in the first quarter of 2025 to 2.9 percent in the same period this year. Direct tourism GDP reached RO 293.8 million, marking growth of 6.5 percent.
Total tourism output climbed 9.7 percent to RO 610.4 million, while the sector’s total direct added value rose 6.6 percent to RO 286.4 million.
Accommodation services accounted for the largest share of tourism’s direct added value at 24.8 percent, followed by travel agency and reservation services at 19.7 percent, transportation at 18.7 percent, and restaurant services at 18.3 percent, highlighting the broad economic impact of tourism-related activities.
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At constant prices, direct tourism GDP increased to RO 279.9 million, compared with RO 272.3 million during the first quarter of 2025, representing real growth of 2.8 percent.
The latest figures continue a steady rise in tourism’s contribution to Oman’s economy. The sector accounted for 1.6 percent of GDP in 2020 and 2021, rising to 2 percent in 2022, 2.5 percent in 2023 and 2.7 percent in 2024 and 2025, before reaching 2.9 percent in the first quarter of 2026.
The performance puts Oman closer to the goals of Oman Vision 2040, which targets increasing tourism’s contribution to GDP to 3.5 percent by 2030 and 5.3 percent by 2040.
The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism said it will continue expanding tourism products, improving visitor experiences, attracting new source markets and using technology and data to better understand traveller trends. Its efforts are also aimed at increasing visitor spending, extending stays and creating new employment and investment opportunities.
H.E. Azzan bin Qasim Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism, said the first-quarter indicators reflected the sector’s continued gradual growth and the positive impact of efforts to develop tourism assets, attract investment and diversify tourism experiences.
He said the Ministry would continue implementing programmes in partnership with public and private sector entities to increase the competitiveness of Oman as a tourism destination, support economic development across the governorates and advance the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
H.E. Al Busaidi added that tourism’s links with transportation, accommodation, hospitality, travel and cultural services widened its economic impact while supporting small and medium enterprises and increasing private-sector participation in the country’s development.
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