If you’ve booked a few days in Muscat and suddenly find yourself tempted by Oman’s rugged mountain roads, jade-green wadis and long, empty coastline, you’re in luck – the country has changed its visa rules to make it easier for tourists to stay longer than originally planned. The first covers 73 nationalities – including the UK, much of Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, China, Japan and South Africa – which can enter under the 14-day scheme outright. Awf Al Shehhi/500pxPreviously, anyone intending to stay beyond the initial 14 days was generally expected to arrange a longer tourist visa before travelling. The new rules now explicitly allow those arriving under the free 14-day scheme to replace it with another tourist visa during the same trip, subject to the usual requirements and fees. Crucially, travellers can make that decision after arriving, rather than having to map out every last wadi before boarding the plane.