DMC Safety  Measures
We have implemented the following measures to reduce the risk of Covid19 to our guests & staff and to give you peace of mind when your guests are traveling during these new times. Enhanced hygiene protocols and physical distancing requirements are as detailed below.

Meet & greet Services

• All Zahara Tours guides and representatives will undergo health check with their temperature recorded on a daily basis. They will at all times wear masks and gloves all time.
• Clients baggage will not be handled by Zahara Tours representative unless requested by travellers for assistance.
• Representatives will be carrying hand sanitizer when meet guests and avoid shaking hands/ close interactions as much as possible.
• Printed document or travel kit containing itinerary and vouchers will not be handed over to the client upon arrival. Documents (if any) will be sent through email.
• Excursions brochures and Safety protocols are available online and can be downloaded using the QR code scanner.
• Zahara representative will be provided with a thermal scale (digital) to check the temperature of all tourists upon arrival and will follow govt guidelines in case of high temperature.
• It is mandatory to have health insurance for all guests arriving in Oman in order to cover any health emergency during the trip.

Transportation

• All our chauffeurs, guide and helpers are trained on health and safety procedures.
• Chauffeurs will be wearing a mask and gloves during the entire trip.
• All vehicles will be sanitized on a regular basis pre & post every trip. Frequently touched parts of the vehicles, such as window switches, door handles, Interior lights, AC controls, Mirrors etc will be sanitized thoroughly.
• Hand sanitizers will be placed in all the vehicles.
• Social distancing will be maintained in all Vehicles / Boats as per the guidelines given by local authorities.  
• Groups will be operated with a maximum size of 10 – 15 pax/group.
• Vehicles will be fitted with safety cards to encourage guests to take safety measures.
• The emergency number will be displayed on all the vehicles and making them available to all staff and tourists.
• Chauffeurs and Guides will be equipped with PPE’s like disposable Masks, Gloves & hand sanitizer for every trip.
• Chauffeurs / Guides will make sure that he/she briefs guest on wearing safety mask, gloves & stress frequent hand sanitizing during excursion.
• Vehicle operated by Zahara Tours will follow hygiene practices as stipulated by the government.

Chauffeur Guides, Guides & Escorts

• All the guides will wear face shield/mask and gloves throughout the trip.
• Training on health and safety equips our guides and escorts with enhanced hygiene and physical distancing procedures.
• During the trip, they will operate their duty with care and monitor the hygiene etiquette of our guests, reacting and advising as needed, to ensure high standards are maintained.
• Before the trip, guests will be informed about new protocols stipulated by the country and their co-operation sought during the trip.
• All the guides will avoid physical contact with the clients during the tour.
• Adequate distance will be maintained during all the tours.
• Any unexpected issues that arise during the trip will be reported to the office by our guides and chauffeurs.  
• Tour guides will also make sure that Hotels, Museums, and other places of interest follow safety procedures on disinfection & social distancing.

Excursions & Round trips

• Visits to crowded places and markets will be avoided.
• Visits to local families, cooking classes, and interaction with the locals will be suspended until further notice.
• In case physical tickets are provided at the monument, the same will be collected by our Guide / Chauffeur on behalf of the guests.  
• It is mandatory for guests to wear face masks in public places.

Camping

• Camping equipment will be labelled and managed for the whole duration of the trip
• All equipment will be cleaned and sanitized before and after every trip.
• Guests are requested to bring their own sleeping bags. Guests have the options to buy sleeping bags and other personal items locally.
• Food will be prepared by the crew and served individually.  
• Crew and guides will wear all personal protection equipment while preparing the meals.
• Meal preparation will occur in an open-air area rather than a shelter when possible during the trip.
• All dishes and utensils will be cleaned with boiling water after every meal.

We reserve the right to amend the above guidelines periodically as per the Ministry of Health directives.

Hotels & Restaurants Safety Measures
Our selection of Hotels, Restaurants and Venues are strictly based on the guidelines proposed by Ministry of tourism and our own health & safety protocols. Moreover, each hotel has their own SOPs which are reviewed and approved by our quality control team on a regular basis.


Public Areas

• All employees will be wearing masks and gloves.
• Masks are available for guests on request.
• Hand sanitizers are available in all public areas including restrooms and clearly visible for guests.
• Social distancing rules are adhered by all staff keeping a minimum of 1.5 to 2 meters distance when talking and interacting with guests.
• Elevators and handrails are cleaned regularly.

Guest Experiences and Rooms

• Hotel will minimize the number of entrances to the hotel and facilities.
• Upon check-in, guests have the possibility to request a ‘Do not enter my room’ process – which means, all guest interaction will happen in front of the guest’s room (e.g. luggage delivery, in-room service, etc.).
• Masks and Sanitizers will be provided upon arrival at the lobby.
• The luggage cleaning service is offered and an additional service for luggage disinfection is available.
• Only disinfected pens are used at the reception and a new pen is placed for each guest.
• Key cards are disinfected prior to hand-out to guests and employees.
• Contactless card payment is available at the hotels.
• Like the linen and the towels, the pillow protectors are changed and sanitized after each departure.
• Lobby seats will be rearranged with two meters space between the seats.

Restaurants & Bars

• All service employees are wearing masks and gloves.
• Hand sanitizers are available in all outlets and clearly visible to guests.
• Tables can only be occupied by a maximum of 4 guests with a minimum distance of 2 meters between the tables.
• All surfaces and table top items, including salt and pepper and flower vase, are cleaned after each service and guest.
• Only contactless card payment is accepted.
•  Wherever possible, menus are available digitally.
• Menus, pen, bill folder or other items are disinfected prior to giving to a guest.
• All snacks are served in closed mini bags, sugar is served in paper sachets or as wrapped cubes.

Meetings & Events

• All service employees are wearing masks and gloves.
• Group arrivals are managed in a separate entrance or divided in several groups to avoid a concentration of people in the lobby.
• Social distancing rules are adhered by all staff keeping a minimum distance of 1.5 to 2 meters when talking and interacting with guests.
• Hand sanitizers are available and visible to delegates at each meeting room entrance, coffee break station and dining table.
• The meeting room setup is compliant with local health regulations, respecting the minimum required distance between delegates and the allowed number of delegates per square meter.
• Meeting rooms are cleaned frequently during the day in addition to the end of the day cleaning.
• Pens used by delegates are collected, cleaned and disinfected after each meeting day. New disinfected pens are provided for every new meeting day.
• Water bottles and glasses are changed during each cleaning.
• Coffee breaks, lunch, dinner and cocktail set ups are compliant with local and national regulations, ensuring the minimum required distance, the maximum number of delegates per table and per room square meter as well as food safety.
• All A/V equipment is thoroughly disinfected after each use.
• All service employees are wearing masks and gloves.
• Hand sanitizers are available in all outlets and clearly visible to guests.
• Tables can only be occupied by a maximum of 4 guests with a minimum distance of 2 meters between the tables.
• All surfaces and table top items, including salt and pepper and flower vase, are cleaned after each service and guest.
• Only contactless card payment is accepted.
• Wherever possible, menus are available digitally. Menus, pen, bill folder or other items, are disinfected prior to giving to a guest.
• All snacks are served in closed mini bags, sugar is served in paper sachets or as wrapped cubes.

(Meeting and Events facilities are closed as per the Covid 19 guidelines given by the Authorities and above measures will be implemented once the facilities are open.) .


Passenger Journey Safety Measures   - Click Here

AVIS Operational Readiness (Rent a Car)
All employees will always follow hygiene standards when in the AVIS location to ensure they are protecting themselves, their colleagues & our customers.  Click Here

Update on 1 September 2021

We are pleased to inform you that vaccinated guests of all nationalities can now travel to Oman. Please refer to the below travel guidelines:

1. Omani citizens, Oman resident card holders, Oman visa holders, guests who do not require a visa to travel to Oman and guests who are eligible to obtain a visa on arrival are permitted to enter the Sultanate of Oman.
2. Omani citizens and their families, non-Omanis working in the Sultanate and holding a valid residency permit, who are not vaccinated are allowed to return to the Sultanate and are subject to 7 days institutional quarantine and a PCR test to be conducted on day 8.
3. Guests are required to present a COVID-19 vaccine certificate containing its corresponding QR code. The certificate needs to state the complete vaccination details.
4. Guests will be exempted from quarantine once they present the vaccination certificate and a negative COVID-19 PCR test report.
5. The COVID-19 PCR test should be conducted 96 hours prior to the scheduled time of arrival in the Sultanate of Oman for international flights of more than 8 hours duration (including transit), and 72 hours for shorter flights.
6. Before boarding the aircraft, all guests travelling to the Sultanate of Oman, including diplomats, are required to pre-register on https://covid19.emushrif.com and to upload the vaccination certificate and the COVID-19 PCR test report, both containing corresponding QR codes.

7. With the exception of Omani citizens, all arriving passengers need to carry international health insurance covering the cost of treatment for COVID-19 for a period of one month.
8. Guests aged 18 and below are exempted from the requirements of the vaccine and COVID-19 PCR test.

The following vaccines are approved for travel to the Sultanate of Oman (registered and approved, not necessarily used in Oman):
1. Pfizer BioNTech
2. Oxford AstraZeneca
3. Sputnik
4. Sinovac
5. Moderna
6. Johnson & Johnson
7. Sinopharm
8. Covishield AstraZeneca
9. Covaxin (approved on 27 Oct 21)

Guests who are not eligible to receive a vaccination due to specific health conditions are required to obtain a medical certificate from an authorized healthcare facility explaining the medical condition.