Two years ago I have already highlighted Al Mouj Golf when I wrote about the development of Jebel Sifah (designed by Peter Harradine).
I told then that Al Mouj Golf is a more complex and compelling golf experience with its Greg Norman-designed, 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course (+par-3 golf course + golf academy).
Did you know that Al Mouj Golf is Oman’s first links course?
Most recently, Al Mouj Golf has been ranked as the #2 golf course in the Middle East on National Club Golfer Magazine’s Top 25 Golf Courses list.
Last year the European Tour and Oman Golf Committee have signed a three-year partnership ensuring the Oman Open will be played at the Al Mouj Golf in Muscat until 2021.
Al Mouj Golf had previously played host to the European Challenge Tour between 2013 and 2017.
Al Mouj Golf can be also proud of being GEO Certified. It received the
IAGTO Sustainability Award for Community Value at the 2019 IAGTO awards as well.
Al Mouj Golf & golf tourism in Oman
However, this is not the most important thing. We have to see and acknowledge the growing tourism industry in Oman.
Yes, Oman is becoming a serious competitor and a real golf tourism destination of the region. Oman as part of the Tanfeedh Program is trying to diversify its income resources and expand non-oil activities since 2016.
The IMF anticipates that the sultanate’s GDP growth will accelerate from 1.9% in 2018 to 5% in 2019.
The Ministry of Tourism is expecting that the tourism industry‘s contribution to the GDP will grow from 6% to 10% in 2019.
I found in the statistics of the Oman Tourism Ministry that Oman had 6535 in 2009 while in 2017 cca. 19,000 inbound tourists.
This is a 291% growth!
If Oman & Al Mouj Golf would like to grow in 2019 they should embrace these trends:
- Unique experiences are in demand.
- Sustainability matters to many tourists (e.g. sustainable hospitality).
- Local culture matters. Show your culture and locals’ everyday life.
- The ability to “know” the guest is key to exceed the guests’ expectations and needs.