Govt gives approval for MoU with Oman on tourism

To strengthen bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector, the government today gave approval for a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Oman.
The Union Cabinet has given its approval to enter into an MoU for strengthening cooperation in the field of tourism between tourism ministries of both the countries, said a senior Tourism Ministry official.
The main objectives of the MoU are to promote safe, honourable and sustainable tourism, to invest in the tourism and hospitality sectors and also to exchange information and data related to it.
India and Oman have enjoyed a strong historical and long economic and political relationship. The Sultanate of Oman is a strategic partner for India in the Gulf region and an important interlocutor in the bilateral, Arab Gulf Cooperation Council, the Arab League and the Indian Ocean Rim Association contexts.

In recent years, Oman has emerged as an important tourism source market for India in the West Asian region.
According to Tourism Ministry data, during 2013, India received 62,252 visitors from Oman. Similarly, India has emerged as one of the important source market for Oman in the field of tourism.
Considering the mutual benefits, both India and Oman would like to create an institutional mechanism for enhancing cooperation in this sector. The signing of the MoU will further strengthen and further develop the established relationship between them.