Oman’s New Tourism Rules, Explained

Oman has joined its Gulf neighbors in formalizing tourism regulation, with a new framework that requires every tourism business in the sultanate to obtain a government license. The rules will test smaller, informal operators far more than the large ones.

“No tourism activity may be practiced, nor any tourist or hotel establishment operated or managed, unless a license has been obtained from the Ministry,” the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism said Monday.

The new regulations, which must be complied with by existing operators within six months, apply to hotels and tourist establishments, travel agencies, tour guides, adventure tourism operators, entertainment groups performing in hospitality venues, and business tourism organizers.

They replace ministerial decree No. 124/2021, which stipulated that adventure tourism needed to be run by licensed operators.

Hotel Sector Growth

The regulations come in line with Oman’s ambitions to grow its