Oman’s tourism receipts touched $1.09 billion in 2012 putting the sultanate’s share in the Middle East international tourism income at 2.3 per cent, said a report.

The sultanate's income in 2011 was $996 million, said the Muscat Daily report based on the 2012 figures released recently in the 'Tourism Highlights 2013' by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

The three leading GCC nations in international tourism receipts for 2012 were UAE ($10.4 billion), Saudi Arabia ($7.43 billion) and Qatar ($2.85 billion). While Oman stood fourth, Kuwait collected $425mn while 2012 data for Bahrain was unavailable.