Case Study guidelines Description and Marking Guidelines 15 Marks COVID-19's Impacts on the Hotel Industry in Oman. The emerging Covid-19 crisis has had a severe impact on all aspects of development in the Sultanate. Worldwide, consumer spending has declined, travel and tourism have been disrupted, and industry has slowed down due to movement restrictions. Economic activities and services such as transportation and shopping were also affected, which has led to a decrease in both consumption and demand. The hotel market is one of the most affected by the situation. Accommodation is a base of tourism industry as it is a vital and fundamental part of tourism supply. The outbreak of the coronavirus across Oman caused massive cancellations, which steadily reduced occupancy levels, until several of the major market chains opted to temporarily close their establishments. losses of the sector automatically were reflected in hotel occupancy in the Sultanate as the total revenues of Omani hotels in the three-to-five-star category fell by 60.2 per cent to RO 70.70 million until the end of October 2020 compared to RO 177.72 million for the same period in the previous year. Hotels occupancy rates declined by 50.1 per cent to reach 26.1 per cent until the end of October 2020 against 52.3 per cent for the same period in 2019, according to the latest monthly statistics released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). Meanwhile, the total number of guests in Omani hotels dropped by 53.9 per cent in the first 10 months of 2020 to stand at 646,841 guests, compared to 1.40 million guests for the same period in 2019. Among the nationalities, Omanis constituted the maximum number of visitors, reaching 337,687 guests. This was followed by 164,873 European guests and 47,643 Asian tourists until the end of October 2020, the NCSI revealed. At the beginning of this year 2021, the situation is very good, with the lowest figures since the start of the epidemic: less than 200 cases and only 1 death per day on average: less than 30 people in intensive care units. Among other factors, the Omani government's early implementation of the restrictions and the very gradual return to normal allowed to avoid a strict lockdown of the population as well as an overwhelming of the health-care system. Although the recovery period is still uncertain, from the experience of previous disruptive crises, it is safe to say that the market will regain the fundamentals from before the COVID-19 outbreak. Effective from January 18 this year, Oman closed its land borders once again after spending 2020 trying to claw back its tourism sector. In a statement on the state news agency ONA, it said: "The committee reviewed the report of the specialized technical team on the spread of the new Covid-19 strain and uncertain, from the experience of previous disruptive crises, it is safe to say that the market will regain the fundamentals from before the COVID-19 outbreak. Effective from January 18 this year, Oman closed its land borders once again after spending 2020 trying to claw back its tourism sector. In a statement on the state news agency ONA, it said: "The committee reviewed the report of the specialized technical team on the spread of the new Covid-19 strain and means of protecting all individuals of society against the disease, in general, and the new variant in particular. A growing rate of lenience has been observed among citizens and individuals in implementing precautionary measures approved by the authorities concerned. It has been noticed that social events drew about large gatherings in tents and other venues, making it possible for the virus to spread among segments of society." Each student should write an analytical report which covers the answers of the following questions: - Discuss the importance of accommodation to tourism and the Omani economy as a whole. 2 Explain how the accommodation sector in Oman has been affected severely by the outbreak of COVID-19. Suggest effective ways/actions that the government can take in order to mitigate the negative impacts of this pandemic situation This case study will be assessed based on adequate coverage of the following aspects. ASPECT ALLOCATED MARKS 3 marks MARKS ACHIEVED BY STUDENT Summary of the case Answering all the questions 6 Ability to provide sound analysis 3 marks Clarity and grammars Conclusion Recommendations 2 marks 15 Total mark score 3