The National Travel Operator – Visit Oman has become a member of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), marking a milestone in advancing Oman’s position within the global Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector.
Established in 1963, ICCA is the world’s
leading association for the international meetings industry, comprising more
than 1,100 member organizations across over 100 countries.
Visit Oman’s membership provides direct
access to ICCA’s extensive global network, industry intelligence, and market
expertise, accelerating Oman’s engagement with the world’s association meetings
market.
As Oman’s Destination Management System
(DMS), Visit Oman plays a critical role in digitally connecting global demand
with Oman’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem.
Through its ICCA membership, Visit Oman
gains access to one of the world’s most comprehensive databases of moving
association meetings, covering more than 220,000 conferences annually,
increasing opportunities to host high‑value international events in Oman, further reinforcing Visit Oman’s
role as a national enabler for inbound tourism and MICE demand.
The membership strengthens collaboration
between Visit Oman, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, convention bureaus,
and local industry stakeholders, ensuring that Oman’s MICE offering is visible,
competitive, and accessible at a global level.
The milestone comes at a time of sustained
growth for Oman’s MICE sector.
In 2025, the segment generated
approximately OMR 15 million in economic returns, hosted 24 major international
conferences, and recorded visitor spend levels three to five times higher than
leisure tourism, underscoring MICE tourism’s strategic importance to national
diversification goals.
Shabib Al Maamari, Managing Director of
Visit Oman, said: “Joining ICCA is a significant step in strengthening Oman’s
global MICE presence. As a Destination Management System, Visit Oman plays a
vital role in connecting international markets with local assets and
translating opportunity into tangible economic impact for the country, further
building on Oman’s existing ICCA footprint, including the Oman Convention &
Exhibition Centre (OCEC) as an established ICCA venue member, and reinforcing
the country’s credentials as a capable and internationally recognized host for
large‑scale meetings
and conferences.”
Khalid Al Zadjali, ICCA Board Member, ME
Chapter Chairperson, and Director of the Oman Convention Bureau at the Ministry
of Heritage and Tourism, added: “Visit Oman’s membership in ICCA enhances
Oman’s ability to compete effectively in the global business tourism market.
This collaboration supports our shared objective of attracting high‑value international events and aligns closely with Oman Vision
2040’s focus on economic diversification through tourism.” -TradeArabia News Service