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Merge 104.8 | 29 June 2020
Oman’s Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has issued a series of guidelines and preventive measures to tour and travel operators in the Sultanate in preparation for the slow return of tourism to the country.
In a statement issued online, the MoT has outlined the following industry-specific measures tour and travel providers must follow to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among tour groups:
— Travel and tour offices must ensure that travelers coming from outside Oman have a medical certificate or permits issued by the relevant authorities.
— For travel and tour bookings, it will be mandatory for all tourists to have health insurance before their reservation can be completed.
— As much as possible, bookings should be made online and paper documents and cash transactions avoided.
— Travel providers must organize tours and excursions in small groups of no more than 16 people at a time, with social distancing measures in place.
The MoT has also issued guidelines for visitors upon arrival and check-in to hotels:
— Guests should adhere to social distancing and avoid mixing in common areas during arrival, check-in, and check-out.
— At the check-in desk, separate pens must be used for each guest, and they should be directed to complete registration online for their customer profile.
— Arrival times of tour groups must be logged/registered, and they must be directed to a clean waiting area with temporary seating and water bottles.
— Attention must be given to the number of people in the reception area so as to avoid over-crowding and adhere to social distancing.
— The contact details of all guests must be logged upon arrival, and drivers of tour vehicles must be provided with digital thermometers to check the temperature of guests.
— During meal service, guests should adhere to social distancing while in the restaurants, and a la carte service should be offered instead of buffet.
Tour and travel offices and visitors are also expected to adhere to all other precautionary health and safety measures as advised by Oman’s Supreme Committee for COVID-19.
(Also read: Children, elderly prohibited from entering Muttrah Fish Market amid COVID-19 precautions.)
