A destination with beautiful beaches, picturesque mountains and golden desert sands – Oman is an apt location to say ‘I do’. The country also offers plenty of picture-perfect backdrops that are ideal for pre-wedding photo-shoots and video shoots. As per the figures provided by The Sultanate of Oman, the country received 3,57,147 Indian arrivals in 2018 recording a growth of 12.37 per cent over 2017. In fact, India is the second highest tourism source market for Oman after the GCC region.

Talking about the increasing interest in Indian wedding tourism industry, Lubaina Sheerazi, India Representative, Ministry of Tourism, Oman said, “Wedding tourism in India is growing at a phenomenal rate. More and more Indians aspire to have fairytale wedding setup. Oman is known for magnificent and Arabian-palace like hotels & resorts, offering finest, modern infrastructure, with indoor and outdoor settings which are perfect for 2-3 days celebrations. What also works in Oman’s favour is the newness it brings to the clients. It is still a relatively unexplored destination compared to other GCC countries and this also adds value to the destination as Indians want to explore new destinations.”

According to Sheerazi, Oman offers a perfect blend of old and new world charm which can fit in for both royal and majestic Indian weddings.

She said, “Oman features the most amazing landscapes and hotels. The destination has excellent air-connectivity from across India with short-flying time. Moreover, since the destination provides simplified and faster visa facilities, bigger weddings with long guest-list is possible. Coming to food which is one of the most important element of a wedding; all the top hotels and resorts in Oman offer Indian and local cuisine and are flexible to adapt to the needs of Indian wedding set-ups.”

Furthermore, the country has recently announced a new short-term tourist visa at five Omani Riyal (OMR) equivalent to approximately INR 900, for a 10-day visit for Indian citizens holding a valid visa to any one of these countries – United States of America, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan and the Schengen States.

The top hotels in Oman for Indian weddings are Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa; Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel; Grand Hyatt Muscat and Millennium Resort Mussanah. More 5-star hotels will be added to the list in 2019 with the opening of W, JW Marriott, Jumeirah Muscat Bay, Sahab Resort & Spa.

More hotels will be added to the list this year with the opening to The Hilton Garden Inn (3-star property with 232 rooms), Jumeirah Muscat Bay (5-star property with 112 rooms), Sahab Resort & Spa (4-star property with 27 rooms),