Situated in the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman’s mix of mountain and desert, unspoilt beaches and ancient cities is proving popular with upmarket clients, according to leading tour operators.
Arabian Odyssey managing director Liz Pepperell said: “With spectacular new hotels in the capital Muscat, its scenery, timeless culture and liberal attitudes, Oman is tailor-made for the top end of the market.”
“If you go from Salalah in the south to Musandam in the north, you have a complete contrast and change of climate. In the south it is lush and tropical, while in the north, there are arid mountainous wastes and fjords,” she added.
The operator offers three nights at the five-star Hyatt Muscat for £572, on a room-only basis. The price includes flights.
Dnata leisure sales manager Nick Sheppard said: “Oman is ideal for a winter break as it offers year-round sunshine. There is a great variety of product, from four-wheel-drive safaris to the desert and Hajar mountains to its uncluttered beaches.”
The company offers three nights at the Muscat Holiday Inn from £497, including air fares. The deal is valid until December 8.
Other operators to the country include Steppes East. The company’s 19-day Secrets of the Empty Quarter tour costs from £2,295 next February; Elite Vacations charges £1,559 for its seven-night Oman Adventure; and Amathus Holidays offers four nights at the Hotel Inter-Continental for £491 this winter.
Elsewhere in the region, Dubai’s reputation for quality hotels and excellent shopping continues to attract British interest, with 200,000 of its 2.54m visitors in 1998 from the UK. Distant Dreams lists Dubai as its top short-break destination and Premier Holidays claims its clients have trebled their average length of stay there from two to six nights over the past two years.
Brand manager cities for Bridge Travel Service Gary Grieve said: “Dubai is not a typical city- break destination. Its excellent accommodation, legendary shopping, golf, desert activities and guaranteed winter sun make it ideal for the upmarket client who has done Europe.”
The company introduced the emirate for 1999 and reports its three-night breaks, costing from £550, are selling exceptionally well.
Dubai is now offered by 86 mainstream operators, including Cresta, Crystal Cities and Travelscene, as well as a clutch of golf operators including Longmere Golf, Longshot Golf Holidays and British Airways Holidays.
Twenty companies featured it for the first time this year, and a further half-dozen newcomers, including Goldenjoy, will launch programmes by the end of the year.
While Dubai appeals to those who want a gentle introduction to Middle Eastern culture, the more adventurous UK client is increasingly eager to visit countries only now waking up to tourism’s potential. On offer with specialist operators to the region are Iran, Libya and Saudi Arabia.
Cox and Kings, for example, was among the operators that introduced Iran this year, and claims its programme is going from strength to strength. Product manager Middle East Hugh Fraser said: “Our four 10-day Treasures of Persia tours were all at full capacity, and for 2000 we will add two departures and optional extensions.”
Similarly, several companies will feature Libya in 2000, basing their programmes on British Airways’ new services to Tripoli. The Imaginative Traveller is launching its 15-day tour Lost Cities and Sand Seas, costing from £1,295, excluding flights.
Meanwhile Bales Worldwide, the only operator to offer Saudi Arabia, will repeat its 10-day, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia tour, introduced this year.
Meanwhile, Qatar – known mainly to the golfing and business fraternities – could find its way into UK brochures as the country attracts the attention of international hotel chains. Over the next two years, the Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton groups are due to invest in properties in Doha, the capital.
The biggest question mark, however, hangs over Yemen. UK tour operators withdrew the country from their programmes after the Foreign Office advised against travel to the region following the the murder of British tourists.
Steppes East sales executive Victoria Gilroy said:”The country has an enormous amount to offer in terms of hospitality, scenery and architecture. We believe it will be a big seller in the future, and as soon as the Foreign Office ban is lifted, we’ll be back.”