US Portal Places Oman In Top Four Luxury Destinations Making Big Impact This Year

Oman has been placed among the top four “luxury destinations making a big impact in 2018” by a US-based travel and business portal.

According to Skift, which is a global provider of information and data relating to the travel and tourism sector, the best way of predicting the up-and-coming luxury destinations of 2018 is to look at where new products are coming online, as well as chatting with travel agents and tour operators working exclusively with the affluent.

Based on these criteria, Skift narrowed down to four markets to keep an eye on this year.

According to an upscale experiential travel veteran Richard Bangs, Oman seems to be the new smart destination among those who have experienced the world, wrote Laura Powell of Skift. “Part of its appeal is that it is an island of peace in an unsettled sea, as it borders Yemen, Saudi Arabia and is just a skip across the Persian Gulf from Iran. I think we all quest for understanding… and this is one place where we can safely venture to get a bead on the swirling currents and the cultures, and experience the beauty and traditions of a world apart,” said Bangs, the founder of the leading adventure travel company Mountain Travel Sobek.

Oman's popularity is on the up and also the visitor numbers to the sultanate. According to the Ministry of Tourism, 2017 witnessed an increase in the number of visitors by 4.7 per cent compared to the previous year. “The number of visitors reached 3.3mn compared to 3.15mn in 2016,” MoT stated.

Taking note of the new luxury properties coming online, Skift said that the 2018 reintroduction of a classic Ritz-Carlton property (Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel), along with the Omani debut of the W and Kempinski brands, will likely lead to more increase in tourist numbers.

Others markets to look out for include Japan, Portugal and Tunisia. While Tokyo and Kyoto have long been favourite destinations among luxury travellers, the hinterlands of Japan are now getting their turn in the sun. Virtuoso, a network of luxury travel agents, named Japan as one of its top-five international destinations for 2018, largely because of new tourism developments outside of the country’s major cities, stated Skift.

According to Laura, this is the year Tunisia should make a comeback. While in Europe, Portugal has emerged from Spain’s shadow in the past couple of years, having shown up on several 2017 hot lists. “The year 2018 will see Portugal’s arrival as a luxury destination beyond Lisbon, due to its burgeoning food scene, international recognition of Douro DOC wines, and a spurt of luxury hotels opening in the countryside and on the coast.”