Muscat: The Ministry of Culture, Heritage and Tourism has announced that the number of tourists who visited the Sultanate of Oman via cruise ships and yachts in 2025 reached 137,330.
The Ministry, in collaboration with relevant organizations, affirmed its continued efforts towards the development of the cruise ship and yacht sector. This includes promoting the attraction of international cruise ships and yachts and working to increase the number of tourists from targeted markets, thereby strengthening the Sultanate of Oman’s position as a premier maritime destination in the region.
The Ministry of Culture, Heritage and Tourism is working with relevant authorities to develop policies and strategic plans in this area, with the aim of modernizing and improving seaport facilities. The ministry is working with consulting firms to prepare a comprehensive strategic study on the cruise ship and yacht sector. This study aims to strengthen the sector’s position and cement its role within economic diversification priorities. This includes a comprehensive assessment of the current situation at the regulatory, operational and competitive levels and the development of a vision for the future, supported by a clear implementation roadmap.
The consulting firm is currently implementing a variety of initiatives, including developing and improving port and marina systems, improving coordination among stakeholders, increasing the economic benefits of cruise ship visits, and developing joint incentive programs with public and private partners to strengthen the attractiveness of Omani ports as major regional destinations for cruise ships and yachts.
The Ministry is also studying operational and promotional alternatives and increasing direct communication with international cruise lines to ensure Omani ports continue to be included in itineraries. This includes developing competitive incentives and improving the visitor experience at ports, in line with global developments in the sector.
The Ministry of Culture, Heritage and Tourism has confirmed that in the current 2025/2026 season, the passenger exchange of the cruise ship “Vasco da Gama” scheduled to arrive at the port of Salalah on March 24, 2026 will resume, and the five calls of the cruise ship “Celestial” to the port of Khasab will continue.
We accepted the first call of the cruise ship “Aloya” to Khasab Port. The ship will visit Sultan Qaboos Port today. During the 2025/2026 season, the ship will make 11 visits to Khasab Port and 5 visits to Sultan Qaboos Port.
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