Oman has emerged as one of the strongest-performing destinations for Indian outbound travel in 2026, posting record visitor numbers. The destination welcomed over 3.31 lakh Indians between January and May.
TT Bureau
The Sultanate of Oman has recorded its strongest-ever performance from the Indian market, welcoming 331,365 Indian visitors between January and May 2026, marking a 36 per cent increase over the corresponding period last year. May emerged as the best-performing month on record, with 81,797 Indian arrivals, representing a 67 per cent year-on-year rise, according to the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman.
January also delivered strong momentum, recording 65,816 arrivals, up 61 per cent compared to January 2025.
The growth comes despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty across the wider region, underlining Oman’s continued appeal among Indian travellers seeking safe, accessible, and diverse international destinations. The destination’s performance has been supported by sustained market engagement in India through trade partnerships, destination training programmes, joint marketing campaigns, and influencer-led initiatives.
A key milestone was Focus Oman 2025 in Jaipur, which brought together more than 150 travel trade stakeholders from across India and further strengthened tourism ties between the two countries.
Trade efforts
Oman’s India outreach strategy generated a return of over 40,000 passenger bookings and over 90,000 room nights. The ministry also collaborated closely with airline partners, including Oman Air and Salam Air, to enhance connectivity and simplify access for Indian travellers.
Growing confidence
Commenting on the performance, Saada Abdullah Saif Al Harthi, Director of Business Development, Directorate General of Tourism Promotion, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, said, “The continued growth of the Indian market is a strong endorsement of Oman’s appeal as a destination and reflects the deep and enduring ties between our two countries.”
Arjun Chadha, Country Manager – India, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, attributed the growth to consistent engagement with the Indian travel trade. “The record growth achieved during January–May 2026 is the outcome of a focused and sustained effort to deepen Oman’s presence across the Indian market.
Through extensive trade engagement, joint marketing initiatives, destination training programmes, familiarisation trips, media outreach, and strong collaboration with Oman Air, Salaam Air, and travel partners, we have worked consistently to build awareness and confidence in Oman as a preferred year-round destination.” He added, “The foundations for this success were built throughout 2025 with carefully planned activities to keep Oman top-of-mind for Indian travellers.”
Expansion plans
Building on the record-breaking arrivals, Oman plans to intensify its engagement across India through a series of initiatives, including a Luxury Trade FAM, Product Managers FAM, Influencer FAM, a proposed Focus Oman 2.0 event, and a four-city sales mission covering Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Delhi.