The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, has announced its strongest-ever January–May performance from the Indian market, with 3,31,365 Indian arrivals recorded during the first five months of 2026- a 36% increase over the same period in 2025. The achievement is particularly significant given the ongoing uncertainty in wider geopolitical relations that is impacting travel sentiment. While evolving regional dynamics may shape perceptions of the region, Oman continues to offer Indian travellers a welcoming, peaceful and enriching experience for which the destination is known.
May 2026 alone recorded 81,797 Indian arrivals- a 67% increase over May 2025 and the highest single month on record. January 2026 similarly delivered 65,816 arrivals, a 61% year-on-year increase, signalling strong momentum from the very start of the year. The results are consistent with the persistent multi-layered efforts in Indian market outreach throughout 2025 by the India Representative Office of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman. The centrepiece of the year was the landmark Focus Oman 2025 in Jaipur- a historic trade showcase that brought together 150+ leading travel trade stakeholders from across India, marking a defining moment in India-Oman tourism relations.
The market witnessed sustained momentum through combined trade engagement, destination training programmes, joint marketing campaigns and influencer campaigns. The robust marketing strategy delivered an ROI of 40,000+ passenger bookings and 90,000+ room nights, riding the ongoing traction. The Ministry’s India Representative Office also worked closely with airline partners, including Oman Air and Salam Air, to reinforce the ease of access between India and Oman.
India continues to be a cornerstone of the Sultanate’s efforts to drive sustainable growth and diversified tourism strategy, and the destination has continued to attract interest across leisure, luxury, honeymoon, destination wedding, adventure, culture, MICE, and family travel segments.
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. Recording more than 331,000 Indian arrivals during the first five months of 2026 is a significant achievement, particularly in a period marked by wider regional uncertainty. These results demonstrate the confidence that Indian travellers place in Oman’s unique blend of heritage, natural beauty, hospitality, and accessibility. India remains one of our most important source markets, and we remain committed to strengthening our engagement, expanding partnerships, and creating new opportunities to welcome even more visitors from India in the years ahead.”
Arjun Chadha, Country Manager – India, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, said: “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 and 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, and the response from the travel trade and Indian consumers has been exceptionally encouraging, and we are grateful for the support of our partners who have contributed to this success. With an exciting pipeline of activations planned for the remainder of the year, we are confident that this momentum will continue.”
Forward Outlook
Building on record-breaking visitor arrivals from India and the growing demand from Tier 1 and Tier 2 markets across the country hints at the destination’s expanding appeal among travellers and media, and the Ministry is intensifying its engagement strategy for deeper market penetration and sustained growth momentum to cement Oman as the leading year-round destination in 2026 and beyond, with- • A Luxury Trade FAM • A Product Managers FAM • An Influencer FAM • A proposal for Focus Oman 2.0 • A 4-City Sales Mission across Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Delhi More than this milestone achievement, the numbers indicate the growing depth of the tourism relationship between Oman and India and the effectiveness of the overall sustainable market strategy that continues to convert awareness into growing visitor arrivals.
Janice Alyosius is a travel and MICE journalist focusing on business travel, destination marketing, aviation and industry policy. She leads editorial content at MICEtalk and also writes for TravTalk, covering global trends, trade developments and key industry conversations. With regular reporting from tourism forums, conventions and on-ground industry events, her work blends news-led analysis with strong industry voices, offering clear context and relevance for travel trade professionals and decision-makers.