25/11/2011 | C. Martin
An increasing number of holidaymakers are expected to head to the Middle East in the coming years, Lonely Planet has predicted.
In spite of the recent spate of revolutions in countries such as Egypt, the Middle East is still welcoming tourists from different parts of the world, who are more interested in taking a holiday in a more stable place, such as Muscat, according to the guidebook's Tom Hall.
Lonely Planet included the capital of Oman in its top 10 must-see cities in the world for 2012.
Highlighting the growth of Muscat as a popular tourist destination, Mr Hall said: "Muscat has a huge amount of history [and] a lot of heritage with the port, which has been a world trading post for centuries."
A number of resorts are opening up in the city, helping accommodate the increasing number of tourists.
A popular tourist attraction in the city is the new opera house, according to Mr Hall.
Copyright Press Association 2011