The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT), announced its official partnership for the 2024 edition of the International Berlin Tourism Exchange (ITB), the largest and reputed tourism fair globally.

The strong representation of the Sultanate of Oman as the official partner of ITB Berlin 2024 comes as an affirmation of the Sultanate of Oman's plans to develop its tourism sector and enhance the country ranking as a global tourism destination.

 The exhibition of  the International Berlin Tourism Exchange, ITB  2024,  will be held from 5^th  to 7^th  March 2024, with participation of  more than 160 countries and  above  5,000 exhibitors .where it is expected to attract more than  hundred twenty thousand visitors from  across the  world, in attendance of  about  seven thousand media representatives, and fifteen hundred of travel bloggers from more than thirty-five countries to cover this world's leading event.

This partnership of the Sultanate of Oman  for ITB Berlin 2024  is considered  an ideal opportunity to introduce the tourism potential, products, services and tourism experiences that the Sultanate of Oman abounds in, as well as it contributes to promote  tourism , increasing the flow of more tourists from the tourists exporting markets, and  promoting the multiple investment opportunities that the Omani tourism strategy creates to contribute to achieve the investment goals of the tourism sector in the context of the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, as well as it is  a leading platform for exchanging knowledge and expanding commercial networks in Tourism industry.

Commenting on the announcing the Sultanate of Oman as an official partner for the 2024 edition of the International Berlin Tourism Exchange (ITB),Haitham bin Mohammad Al Ghassani, Director General of Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism said  : “ this  partnership represents a platform  for strengthening the Sultanate of Oman's status on the global tourism map, and reflects its commitment to expand  the base of international visitors, while  the Sultanate of Oman is  diversifying its tourism products and enhancing its economic activities by investing in the tourism sector, highlighting the unique strategic location of the Sultanate of Oman, its natural beauty, stunning scenery and its rich cultural heritage to form an ideal destination for tourists  who are looking for unique and amazing experiences.

He added: The selection of the Sultanate of Oman as an official partner for  ITB Berlin 2024   reflects the appreciation of the organizers of this world's leading travel trade show for the continuous efforts made by the Sultanate of Oman in promoting the tourism sector and the positive steps witnessed by this sector, that  confirms  its importance in enhancing  growth and economic diversification that the government aspires to, where  the total number of visitors to the Sultanate of Oman by the end of last year reached to  2.9 million visitors, where  the   3-5-star hotels in Oman  by the end of last year recorded an increase in its revenues  , reaching  to RO  186 million , while the number of guests in these hotels reached TO  1.6 million guests, with an  expectations that the number of visitors   will reach to  3.5 million visitors by the end of this year.

Al-Ghassani also added,  that the Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and the Omani tourism sector entities  keen on the annual participation in the Berlin Exhibition, for the importance of this global tourism event in promoting the country's  natural and cultural components and in promoting  its distinctive cultural attractions such as the Royal Opera House, the National Museum and the Oman Across ages Museum , as well as identifying the experiences of the countries of the world in developing the tourism sector, and  to create partnerships and direct work relations between the entities  of the Omani tourism sector and their counterparts in the countries of the world. While these promotional efforts for the tourism sector come in line with the Sultanate of Oman's tendency to provide more facilities for tourist visas, such as electronic visa facilities, exempting nationals of 103 countries from obtaining tourist visas for short visits, and opening direct flights to a number of world capitals.

Al-Ghassani emphasized that , the partnership of the Sultanate of Oman for this  fair  aims at  maximizing  the benefit from this global event through the implementation of marketing campaigns before, during and after participation in the fair  in the German market in particular and other targeted markets.

It is worth noting that the Sultanate of Oman - as a partner country for this fair  - will be allowed to use all means and channels affiliated with the event , providing a space for extensive advertising, promotional and media programs about the Sultanate of Oman throughout the year, as nineteen million professionals in the travel and tourism sector can be reached through advertisements and promotional campaigns. The partner country also will have access to fourteen million people who follow the official website of ITB Berlin.

With this announcement, the Sultanate of Oman strengthens its status as an official partner of the ITB Berlin 2024, while it exerts its efforts to enhance the travel and tourism industry in the country to attract more international tourists to explore its unique beauty and diverse culture.​