One of the Indian Embassy’s key focus areas in Oman is strengthening tourism cooperation between India and the Sultanate, including in medical and wellness tourism. To advance this, the Embassy organises a series of targeted engagements, business-to-business (B2B) interactions and promotional initiatives with relevant stakeholders.
As part of these efforts, the Embassy hosted an India–Oman B2B meet focused on the healthcare and wellness sector on August 5, 2024. The event, held at the Embassy auditorium, also served as a curtain-raiser for the 6th CII Global Ayurveda Summit and the 11th CII Kerala Health Tourism Summit. Ten Indian delegates from the healthcare sector interacted with around 50 representatives from Oman’s healthcare and travel industries, enabling direct exchanges and exploring opportunities in medical and wellness tourism.
In another major outreach initiative, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), in collaboration with the Embassy, organised a tourism roadshow at Hotel Crowne Plaza, Ruwi. The event showcased Goa as a preferred travel destination and drew participation from about 75 members of Oman’s travel and tourism fraternity. The Indian delegation was led by GTDC Managing Director Kuldeep Arolkar and included Shawn Mendes, Officer on Special Duty to the Goa Tourism Minister. During the visit, the delegation also met senior Omani officials, including the Chief Operating Officer of Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN) and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, to explore avenues for deeper tourism collaboration.
The Embassy has also been promoting “Destination India” through sustained visual and digital outreach. Promotional videos highlighting India’s tourism offerings are being screened at social, cultural, business and tourism-related events organised by the Mission. “Incredible India” videos are regularly played at the Embassy’s consular hall and reception areas, while tourism-related materials are distributed to other diplomatic missions, educational institutions and stakeholders in Muscat.
Engagement with key players in the travel and trade sectors has been another focus area. The Embassy has been coordinating with tour operators, airlines and local tourism authorities to promote Indian destinations and encourage participation in major events such as the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention held in Bhubaneswar from January 8–10, 2025. As part of this outreach, stakeholders were encouraged to visit major tourist destinations in Madhya Pradesh, with several participants travelling to Indore around the time of the PBD Convention.
To further enhance visibility of India’s iconic destinations, the Mission has leveraged large public events such as National Day receptions, the International Day of Yoga and community programmes. These events featured curated visuals of prominent Indian tourist sites and interactive “Selfie with India” corners, aimed at increasing public engagement and interest.
Through these sustained initiatives, the Embassy of India in Muscat continues to position India as a diverse and attractive tourism destination for Omani travellers, while strengthening institutional and industry-level partnerships between the two countries.
