Royal Decree No. 29/2023 issuing the Tourism Law.

The Tourism Law, comprising 21 articles, prohibits in Article 2 any actions that violate the law, public order, or morals, threaten national security or stability, harm the environment, or damage Oman’s tourism reputation. Chapter 2 regulates the use and exploitation of tourism areas, sites, and government-owned tourism lands in Oman. It allows individuals or entities to use, lease, manage, or operate such areas only with approval from the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, which also handles related contracts. The Ministry is responsible for identifying and classifying tourism sites, approving new sites, supervising their development and use, and coordinating their promotion and planning in accordance with implementing regulations. Chapter 3 regulates tourism activities in Oman by requiring individuals and entities to obtain a license from the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism before engaging in any tourism-related activity, including operating or managing tourism or hotel establishments. It also requires foreign tourism companies to obtain approval before opening branches or offices in the country. In addition, tourism licenses cannot be transferred or assigned to others without prior approval from the Ministry, as specified in the implementing regulations. Chapter 4 sets out the regulation of tourism and hospitality establishments in Oman by requiring licensed establishments to comply with ministry-set standards developed in coordination with relevant authorities. It provides for the classification and periodic updating of tourism establishments, hotels, restaurants, and cafés according to defined categories. It also requires tourism and hospitality operators to regularly submit statistical data such as visitor numbers and revenues to the Ministry. In addition, it prohibits establishments from misrepresenting or concealing their official classification to promote a higher rating than officially assigned. Finally, Chapter 5 sets penalties and administrative sanctions for violations, including fines and imprisonment, with higher penalties for repeat offenses. It holds companies liable for offenses committed on their behalf, and allows the Minister to impose administrative fines and order removal of illegal activities.