Muscat airport reports 14% increase in passenger traffic 

(MENAFN) Muscat International Airport reported a 14 percent increase in passenger traffic to 2.4 million in 2011, Arabian Business reported.

According to the airport's data, arrivals from Italy saw the biggest increase with 77 percent, followed by Russia with 50 percent growth, Belgium with 33 percent, while arrivals from France remained flat.

Visitors from the Gulf rose 27 percent to 618,877 passenger arrivals, data showed.

Oman has been working on a number of initiatives to increase help boost tourism this year, including the launch of global awareness campaign on BBC Worldwide television and a reduction in tourism visa fees to attract short break and stopover arrivals.

The Sultanate is preparing to host high profile events at its new Royal Opera House Muscat and the launch of events such as the Tour of Oman.

Statistics from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) also reported a 13 percent rise in passenger arrivals to the Omani city of Salalah.