(MENAFN - Muscat Daily) Though, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has forecast that Oman's travel and tourism GDP will grow at an annual rate of six to eight per cent between 2013 and 2017, local tour operators say their business is suffering due to lack of registered tour guides in the sultanate.

As of December 2013, there were only 216 registered tour guides with the Ministry of Tourism. Lakshminarayanan, inbound tours manager, Bahwan Travel Agencies, said, ''Our business is suffering due to lack of tourist guides, especially those who can speak languages like German, French, Italian and Russian. We are forced to tell our business partners abroad and potential tourists about the shortage of tour guides. Clients even change the destination when they come to know about this problem. The guides here sometimes demand unreasonable money since they know there is a shortage.

''We also get tour guides from abroad on 21-day business visas, but the procedure to get them is lengthy. Sometimes, it takes more than 21 days to complete the procedure.''

Arun Raj, business development manager, Zahara Tours said the shortage is felt most during the peak season. ''The shortage is felt the most during Christmas, New Year and Easter holidays. Most of the registered guides do other part-time jobs. Some are only available on weekends or holidays and some give up guiding altogether. It's a serious problem for tour companies. We've currently stopped bookings due to this issue. Easing of restrictions on issue of visa by the authorities would help solve this problem.''

An official from another tourism company said it's getting difficult to obtain short-term visas. ''It is very difficult to find tour guides as short-term visas are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain. Also, tour guides brought in from other countries have to be given proper training, which is time-consuming.

''I urge the authorities to help motivate young Omanis to work in the industry and share their knowledge about the country with the tourists. Omanis who have studied tourism often end up working in other sectors. I think young Omanis who train in tourism should continue working in the sector.''&nb

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Travel agencies complain about lack of tour guides