Oman promotes tourism at international exhibition in Spain
The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism represented the Sultanate of Oman at the Fitur International Tourism Trade Fair held in Madrid, Spain.
There was strong interest from major Spanish travel and tourism companies and agencies, amid the growing enthusiasm of Spanish tourists for visiting Oman.
The Oman pavilion featured nine tourism institutions, companies, and hotel establishments. It launched a promotional campaign showcasing Oman's tourist and heritage sites. There was also a cultural evening to celebrate traditional Omani music, attire, and cuisine.
A number of bilateral meetings were also held between the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and various public and private bodies in Spain. The meetings discussed enhanced cooperation in the tourism sector.
Oman’s Minister of Heritage and Tourism, Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, said that participation in this international tourism event aimed to highlight the extensive tourism potential of the Sultanate and to explore new avenues to enhance cooperation with Spain. He noted that both countries have achieved significant progress in the tourism sector in recent years.
The Minister said that investment in Oman's tourism sector presents a promising future, supported by the incentives and competitive advantages offered by the Government to investors in this field. He invited Spanish investors to take advantage of the available tourism investment opportunities, which can be tailored to suit the preferences and needs of Spanish and European tourists.
Haitham bin Mohammed Al Ghassani, Director General of Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, explained that the new promotional campaign targets key tourist sites in the Spanish capital, Madrid, and the Fitur exhibition, which features around 156 countries. The campaign also includes advertisements on buses in Madrid, promoting the unique attributes of Oman’s tourism sector.
The Ministry's Director General expressed optimism that participation in the Trade Fair would have a positive impact on the increase of tourists to Oman from both Spain and neighbouring European countries.
Shabib Al Maamari, General Manager of Visit Oman, said that the travel platform is keen to participate in such international tourism exhibitions. He noted that the Fitur exhibition attracts extensive participation from those interested in and working in the tourism industry worldwide.
Mr Al Maamari added that Visit Oman had succeeded in establishing strategic partnerships with various Spanish tourism companies at Fitur, including one with the digital platform Destinia to promote Oman's tourism products. Meetings were also held with Spanish companies specialising in charter aviation to explore potential opportunities for attracting their flights to Oman.
Other tour operators were equally enthusiastic. Abdulaziz bin Saif Al Mahrazi, owner of Al Wafra Tourism Company, said the exhibition, marked the company's first entry into the Spanish market. He noted that Oman's pavilion attracted significant attention from Spanish visitors and participants from other countries at the exhibition.
Amer bin Abdullah Al Zadjali, CEO of Sama Travel and Tourism, shared the view that the Spanish tourism market looked promising thanks to the increasing interest of Spanish tourists in Oman in recent months.
He added that Oman's pavilion helped showcase the country’s natural environment and heritage sites, such as forts, castles and museums. The tourism operator was able to present its products and services through meetings with several Spanish tourism companies.
Oman won the award for the best pavilion at the FITUR 2025 International Tourism Trade Fair. The pavilion received widespread acclaim for its innovative design, reflecting Oman's cultural identity by blending authenticity with modernity. The design featured advanced technologies and multimedia presentations that highlighted Oman’s unique heritage and tourism experiences.
Oman’s pavilion at Fitur attracted a large number of visitors from Spain and other participating countries. Visitors explored a variety of tourism programmes, including eco-adventures, cultural festivals, cruises, and innovative initiatives in the tourism sector.
Visitors expressed their admiration for the diverse environment and varied landscapes of the Sultanate of Oman, particularly its beaches, seas, mountains, deserts, stunning natural scenery, and other tourism attractions that make it an appealing travel destination.