MUSCAT: Majority of the three and four star hotels have been fully sold-out for the next few weeks reporting high inflow of guests after the Supreme Committee imposed mandatory institutional quarantine for all passengers arriving in the country.

To contain the spread of coronavirus, the committee have imposed a 7-day quarantine in hotels for all arrivals at their own expense. The decision came into effect from February 15.

Some hotels and travel agents informed The Arabian Stories that they are fully booked over the next few weeks. “Most of the three and four star hotels are fully booked for next few weeks. The response to institutional quarantine has been overwhelming,” said Reena Abdulrahman, Chief Operating Officer of Al Hind Travel and Tours.

“I have been trying to book for a hotel for quarantine and most of them are showing sold-out boards for the next one week so I have postponed my travel,” said Mathew Joseph, a Muscat based resident.

Meanwhile, the decision to quarantine passengers in hotels have thrown a temporary lifeline to an industry struggling for months due to the pandemic. “This (mandatory institutional quarantine) will certainly be a booster for the hotel and hospitality sector,” said a manager

Several hotels and travel agents are also wooing passengers with discount packages and promotions. “It’s always feasible for a passenger to go for a packaged deal. This will help them to reduce their cost,” Reena added.

On Wednesday, the country reported 277 new Covid-19 cases, taking the total number of infections up to 138,207.