NEWS Tourism: Hale and hearty Nishad Anwar Wednesday, February 18, 2009 10:50:08 PM Oman Time Email the story Print the story RSS feed Search MUSCAT — If there is one sector that has a strong presence at the Oman Travel Mart, it is the hospitality sector. “This year we have a good number of participants from the hospitality industry, much more than the previous years. The mart is serving as a launch pad for new entrants too,” says Sadiq Khan, director, sales and marketing of Oman International Trade and Exhibitions (OITE). Park Inn, a sister concern of Radissan SAS, and part of the popular Rezidor hotel group and Crystal Suites owned by Al Fajr Development and Investment LLC, are among the upcoming hotels that have put up stalls at the mart. Other participants from the hospitality industry include Golden Tulips Hotels - Oman, Shamharam Tourist Resort, the new Shanfari Guest House, Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay, Ramee Group of Hotels & Resorts LLC, Muzn Al Fala LLC, Ramada Muscat Hotel, IHG Oman - Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat, Muttrah Hotel, Safeer Hotel & Tourism Co, Golden Oasis Hotel, Majan Continental Hotel, Golden Sands Hotel Apartments and Crowne Muscat International. According to Ajay Dogra, sales manager, Park Inn Muscat, investment activities in the hotel sector have been spurred on by the increase in the number of visitors to Oman. “The hospitality industry is safe despite the current financial crisis. There are no real worries for the hotel industry. “Look, our first hotel in the Middle East is coming up in Oman and we will be opening two Park Inn hotels in Saudi Arabia soon,” he adds. Asked whether it was prudent to start a project at a difficult time such as this, Ajay said Oman was an entirely different market. “Oman has not been affected by the crisis unlike other countries where the hotel industry has been severely hit. “The government of Oman has confirmed that the real estate sector is safe and so there are no worries whatsoever about investing in this sector,” he says. Oman has all it takes to be considered a tourists’ paradise, and guaranteeing the visitors a comfortable stay here is obviously the hotels that are participating in the Oman Travel Mart. “OTM provides us the best opportunity to meet and promote our services to the end-users, corporate decision-makers and clients under one platform,” says Raj Kumar, the general manager of Crystal Suites that is set to open soon in Wadi Kabir.