TravTalk Middle East Online Magazine
New platform places the best of Oman at the fingertips of travel agents around the world. Receiving IATA certification offers a host of value-added benefits for its own operators, including the authorization to sell to all connected flights coming into the country. Over 60,000 IATA travel agents worldwide will benefit from IATA accreditation.
TT Bureau
VisitOman.om, Oman’s dedicated B2B inbound booking engine for trade partners has met the professional standards set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and been accredited as a full IATA-certified agency. This makes the new national travel operator endorsed by both the government and by IATA, ensuring a simplified business relationship between travel agents and airlines.
For VisitOman.om, this represents another significant step in enhancing its vision to be Oman’s extensive travel booking gateway that connects the global travel-trade to unlimited discovery in Oman. Becoming IATA-accredited offers a host of value-added benefits for its own operators, including the authorization to sell to all connected flights coming into the country, while participating in IATA settlement systems in Oman.
Shabib Al Maamari, Managing Director, VisitOman, said, “Becoming accredited by IATA, the trade association for the world’s airlines which represents 83 per cent of total air traffic, adds a high level of professional assurance that VisitOman.om is a trusted and verified travel provider. Alongside the benefits of being accredited, the visibility of the IATA mark of approval on our platform adds credibility to the site and, importantly, the providers associated with it. This achievement in such a short period of time, will have far-reaching positive impact which can only help elevate the stature of tourism in Oman and the possibilities available to international agents.”
Over 60,000 IATA travel agents worldwide will benefit from IATA accreditation and could participate in the IATA Billing and Settlement Plan, which processed over US$ 237 billion in ticket sales in 2019. In Oman’s case, the ability to reach out to partners with seasonal flight offers, promotional rates or competitive pricing in specific markets, creates the opportunity to increase inbound tourism traffic as and when desired.
Located within a seven-hour flight of half of the world’s population, Oman is a central destination with the facilities to match. The potential to drive growth across all segments of the industry from around the world is incredible.
From sports and adventure tourism, business tourism, niche tourism, to packages, family holidays and regular charter flights from Europe, Oman has a unique offering in the region built on an experience-led proposition and a welcoming sense of hospitality which is as charming as is authentic.
Oman’s long-term investment in tourism will pay dividends, especially now that VisitOman.om has joined the ranks of the best, trusted and secure international providers. The country is building sustainable infrastructure which maximizes its natural resources just in time where the global appetite for international travel is returning stronger than ever.
