Citizens spent 700 million on foreign tourism

Muscat: His Excellency Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, confirmed that the tourism sector is a possible, incubating, capable and supportive sector with the rest of the concerned sectors during his hosting of the weekly talk show “with youth” on Sultanate of Oman TV.

His Excellency indicated that Vision 2040 depends on many goals in the tourism sector, which are attracting investment, financial sustainability, and the contribution of sectors that aim to economic diversification in the labour market.

He added that "Al Sharq" project in the Blue City is expected to open in 2024, and it will have all the main ingredients for recreational tourism, in addition to the "Nakhil Resort" project, which will start work, and another project in the Wilayat of Quriyat to attract tourists.

 His Excellency added that approximately 700 million riyals are spent by citizens on foreign tourism. Therefore, the investment programme and recreational projects within the Sultanate of Oman will contribute to reducing the gap between internal and external tourism.

 The Tourism Law will be launched soon and the new executive regulations of the law will take into account the requirements of the operational and development plans in Vision 2040.

Al-Mahrouqi confirms that the traditional neighborhoods and settlements are protected by the force of law, and the priority at the current stage with regard to the architectural heritage is the preservation of the monuments that have been restored during the past 40 and 50 years, including castles, forts and towers.