Tourism has undergone a radical transformation in recent years to become one of the most buoyant non-oil sectors. Royal Decree No 61/2004, issued on June 9, 2004, established the Ministry of Tourism and marked the start of a new era.
The ministry, in conjunction with other competent authorities, became responsible for overseeing the regulation, development and promotion of tourism in Oman. A series of tourist development programmes will be integral to the state’s general Five-year Development Plans.
The ministry studies new tourist projects, and attracts investors through Oman. It also, hopefully, resolves problems facing the development of the tourist sector. It seeks to raise the level of awareness among members of the Omani public about the positive aspects of tourism and the opportunities it offers.
The ministry is the monitoring authority for all tourist establishments and services, including those provided by hotels and travel agents. The four principal elements of the tourist development strategy are: safeguarding Oman’s historical and cultural heritage, protecting the country’s environment and natural beauty, ensuring that the infrastructure is constantly being improved and modernised and promoting ‘quality’ tourism.
The ministry aims to achieve a minimum annual growth rate of at least 7 per cent and increase the tourist sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP to 1.5 % by the beginning of 2010. It also aims to double the number of hotel rooms from the present figure of 8,000 to 16,000 by 2010 and increase the number of ‘tourist nights’ to over five million by the end of 2020.
The Sultanate is currently engaged on a number of huge tourist projects including the construction of more than 10 five-star hotels over the next four years.
The first stages of several self-contained tourist schemes are due to be inaugurated during the next two years, including The Wave Muscat (Al Mawj Muscat), Blue City (Al Madina al Zarqa), Salam Yiti, Al Sifah, Salalah City, Taqah and others.
It is anticipated that investment in major tourist projects will top RO 2 billion during the Seventh Five-year Plan (2006-20 10), compared with RO 90 million in the Sixth Five-year Plan.
The tourist sector grew by over 8 per cent in 2007, following an increase in accommodation capacity and push by the ministry to promote the Sultanate as a tourist destination. The tourist sector’s contribution to GDP is actually far greater than the officially estimated figure of around 1%, a figure based solely on the performance of hotels and - restaurants.
The Ministry of National Economy is working with the Ministry of Tourism on the creation of a broad-based system for calculating the tourist sector’s true contribution to the national economy, based on statistical surveys carried out to determine the spending levels of tourists entering Oman from abroad, as well as the spending on domestic tourism by the country’s residents.
The number of people employed in tourism rose to 13.035 in 2007 — up from 11,651 in 2006, including a growing percentage of Omani nationals.
Exuberant Muscat
With its strategic location on the Gulf of Oman and its access to the Arabian Gulf, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman, has been a city of great historical importance and a major trading centre through the ages. It remains an important maritime hub and communications link between Asia, Africa and Europe.
Muscat Municipality has put a number of projects out to tender under its building development plan, including the reconstruction of the old city of Muscat, which will involve the renovation of seven districts of the old city. The Municipality is currently developing the Hayy al Mina district in Muttrah, where Port Sultan Qaboos is located.
This project is part of an integrated two-phase scheme designed to improve the appearance of the area’s existing buildings, modernise its services, highlight its attractions for tourists, visitors and shoppers and link it to the Sea Road development.
The first phase of the scheme will involve the demolition of certain structures and the addition of a number of modern buildings, all of which have been carefully vetted to ensure they do not detract from Muscat’s traditional architecture.
Under Phase Two, the tourist-, hotel- and service facilities will be developed, particularly in the existing fish market area, after the market is relocated.
The three main features of this phase will be the construction of a five-star hotel complete with all services, with input from the private sector and in coordination with the competent authorities, construction of shops and seafood restaurants to overlook the waterfront and the public square.
Muscat Municipality is planning to create five pedestrian squares for night-time shopping that will be open from 6 pm till midnight.
Muscat Festival
The first Muscat Festival was in February 1998 and it has since become a significant date on the annual Arab festival calendar. Its extensive programme is designed to appeal to every section of the community.
The 2008 Muscat Festival, held from January 21 to February 15, attracted over two million visitors to its various venues. It opened in the Qurum Natural Park with a spellbinding six-part operetta showcasing the rich history of Oman. Adding to the performance was a display of lasers and fireworks that lit up the night sky.
One festival ground contained a crafts market with participants from Iran, Malaysia, Turkey, lndia. the Philippines, Pakistan, China, Egypt and Morocco. Traditional Omani craftspeople were also displaying their skills during the evening to Omanis and foreign visitors.
The festival competitions included Omani, Gulf and Arab singers; theatrical comedy, cultural evenings, exhibitions, workshops, sports and car and motorcycle stunts. In the children’s area, 50-metre high models of the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and other monuments were a popular new attraction.
Salalah Tourism Festival
With its attractive climate, particularly during the khareef, or monsoon season, the Governorate of Dhofar is an important tourist destination. During the khareef, which lasts from June to September, the land is draped in a mantle of greenery; clouds obscure the sun on most days and a gentle drizzle falls in temperatures that never top 22°C and may drop below 15°C in the mountains.
The annual festival, which runs from mid-July tilh the end of August, is the Sultanate’s leading festival and is renowned across the Arab world. With its lively and highly popular programme of recreational, cultural and artistic events, activities for children are also included, such as competitions and plays.
The family-focused festival has won numerous Arab and regional prizes. With literary, cultural, artistic and social events as well as a full programme of sports and recreational activities, the festival is a huge hit with visitors.
In parallel with the growth of its tourist industry, numerous other development projects are also being implemented in Dhofar, which already boasts natural attractions including water sports at Al Mughsail, about 40 km from Salalah, and natural springs such as Ain Razat, Ain Hamran, Ain Athoum, Ain Sahannawt and Ain Garziz, as well as waterfalls gushing after the rains. Wadi Darbat is a popular green, well-watered natural park.
Oman Sail
The Oman Sail project was established in 2008 under the Ministry of Tourism for the development and training of a core team of Omani sailors who will represent Oman in the future in key sailing events. Its objectives are to revive Oman’s maritime heritage and promote the beauty of the Sultanate.
After the successful entry of Oman Sail into the European iShares Extreme 40 Circuit with its new vessel Masirah, the ministry announced the purchase, in June 2008, of the 75-foot trimaran, Musandarn, which earlier took British prize winning yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur into the history books in 2005.
Only two days after being branded in her new colours, Musandam won the Freedom Challenge Bowi for the first GP/MORCA multi-hull to finish in the world’s largest sailing race, the JP Morgan Asset Management Round, the Island Race in Cowes, England.
The four principal ements of the tourist development strategy are: safeguarding Oman’s historical and cultural heritage, protecting the country’s environment and natural beauty, ensuring that the infrastructure is constantly being improved and modernised and promoting ‘quality’ tourism.
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