Tourism Ministry proposes new sites in Oman

Muscat: The Ministry of Tourism has identified 14 tourist gathering areas, in which a package of tourism projects will be implemented.

According to the minister's statement, the choice of areas depends on the attractiveness of the place as a tourist destination, the required investment projects, seasonality and social benefits.

The Omani Tourism Strategy has identified (14) proposed tourist gathering areas, and each tourism cluster contains a package of various hotel and entertainment tourism projects, groups of attractions and landmarks that have a good level of services, accommodation, transportation networks, infrastructure and tourism facilities.

Accordingly, the preparation of tourism development plans for five governorates in the first phase, namely, Muscat, Dhofar, Musandam, Al Dakhiliyah, and Sharqiyah South. Each of which would allow the creation and development of a wide range of tourism products suitable for the targeted local and international markets respectively.

Each governorate needs to take advantage of the relativity and competitiveness, identifying investment opportunities in them by analysing the resources, current conditions and possibilities for tourism development.

They would also be required to assess lands and tourist sites and determine the most appropriate uses, taking into account the principles of sustainable development and achieving the highest rates of environmental preservation, without dismissing social and cultural considerations.