Editing Oman (section)

=== Tourism ===
{{Main|Tourism in Oman}}
[[File:Bustan-palace.jpg|thumb|left|Al-Bustan Palace Hotel]]
[[File:Wahiba Sands (33).jpg|thumb|upright|Wahiba Sands]]
Tourism in Oman has grown considerably recently, and it is expected to be one of the largest industries in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marketresearch.com/Business-Monitor-International-v304/Oman-Tourism-Q2-6205512/ |title=Travel & Leisure Market Research Reports and Industry Analysis |publisher=Marketresearch.com |access-date=9 June 2013 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928211424/http://www.marketresearch.com/Business-Monitor-International-v304/Oman-Tourism-Q2-6205512/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The World Travel & Tourism Council stated that Oman is the fastest growing tourism destination in the Middle East.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oman Eyes Lucrative Business Tourism Market|url=http://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/en/oman-eyes-lucrative-business-tourism-market/|website=Forbesmiddleeast|access-date=26 June 2017|archive-date=26 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626074014/http://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/en/oman-eyes-lucrative-business-tourism-market/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Tourism contributed 2.8 percent to the Omani GDP in 2016. It grew from RO 505 million (US$1.3 billion) in 2009 to RO 719 million (US$1.8 billion) in 2017 (+42.3 percent growth). Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including Omanis who are residing outside of Oman, represent the highest ratio of all tourists visiting Oman, estimated to be 48 percent. The second highest number of visitors come from other Asian countries, who account for 17 percent of the total number of visitors.<ref name=OFIAA>National Green Export Review of Oman: Tourism, Dates and Fish. [https://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/ditcted2018d13_en.pdf National Green Export Review of Oman: Tourism, Dates and Fish (United Nations-CTAD 2018 report)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703204348/https://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/ditcted2018d13_en.pdf |date=3 July 2019 }} United Nations. 2018.</ref> A challenge to tourism development in Oman is the reliance on the government-owned firm, Omran, as a key actor to develop the tourism sector, which potentially creates a market [[barrier to entry|barrier-to-entry]] of private-sector actors and a [[Crowding out (economics)|crowding out]] effect. Another key issue to the tourism sector is deepening the understanding of the ecosystem and biodiversity in Oman to guarantee their protection and preservation.<ref name=unedp/>

[[Ecotourism]] is a growing segment of Omani tourism.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Balida |first=Don Anton |date=2023-05-26 |title=Perceptions and Attitudes of Domestic Tourists toward Ecotourism |url=https://papers.academic-conferences.org/index.php/ictr/article/view/1173 |journal=International Conference on Tourism Research |language=en |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=24–33 |doi=10.34190/ictr.6.1.1173 |issn=2516-3612|doi-access=free }}</ref>  One site in particular –&nbsp;[[Ras al-Jinz]], also known as "Turtle Beach" – is a popular destination due to the annual nesting of the critically endangered [[Hawksbill sea turtle|Hawksbill Turtle]], the endangered [[Green sea turtle|Green Turtle]], the [[Olive ridley sea turtle|Olive Ridley Turtle]], and the [[Loggerhead sea turtle|Loggerhead Turtle]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ras Al Jinz Map, Al Hadd, Ash Sharqiyah South Governorate, Oman {{!}} Sandee |url=https://sandee.com/map/ras-al-jinz/@22.425633,59.837305 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=sandee.com}}</ref>

Oman has one of the most diverse environments in the Middle East with various tourist attractions and is particularly well known for adventure and [[cultural tourism]].<ref name="englishplacenames">{{cite journal|author=Kharusi, N. S. |author2= Salman, A. |title= The English Transliteration of Place Names in Oman|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230721784|journal= Journal of Academic and Applied Studies |volume= 1|issue=3|date=September 2011|pages=1–27 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Thomas, Babu |url=http://www.omanet.om/english/tourism/culture.asp?cat=tour |title=Culture in Oman, Tourism |publisher=Omanet.om |access-date=9 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625131221/http://www.omanet.om/english/tourism/culture.asp?cat=tour |archive-date=25 June 2013 }}</ref> [[Muscat]], the capital of Oman, was named the second best city to visit in the world in 2012 by the travel guide publisher [[Lonely Planet]].<ref>{{cite web |author=I'Anson, Richard |date=7 June 2012 |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/england/london/travel-tips-and-articles/76861 |title=Lonely Planet's Best in Travel: top 10 cities for 2012 – travel tips and articles |publisher=Lonely Planet |access-date=9 June 2013 |archive-date=2 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102010653/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/england/london/travel-tips-and-articles/76861 |url-status=live }}</ref> Muscat also was chosen as the Capital of Arab Tourism of 2012.<ref>[http://www.gulfinthemedia.com/index.php?m=opinions&id=577331&lang=en Postings of opinions published in the Gulf and international newspapers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230014015/http://www.gulfinthemedia.com/index.php?m=opinions&id=577331&lang=en |date=30 December 2014 }}</ref>

In November 2019, Oman made the rule of [[Travel visa|visa]] on arrival an exception and introduced the concept of e-visa for tourists from all nationalities. Under the new laws, visitors were required to apply for the visa in advance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://iheartuae.com/2019/11/11/visitors-to-oman-now-need-to-apply-for-a-visa-in-advance/|title=VISITORS TO OMAN NOW NEED TO APPLY FOR A VISA IN ADVANCE|access-date=11 November 2019|website=Heart 107.1|archive-date=12 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112092306/https://iheartuae.com/2019/11/11/visitors-to-oman-now-need-to-apply-for-a-visa-in-advance/|url-status=dead}}</ref>