Tuesday 17 / September / 2024
Muscat : More than 15,000 visitors of various nationalities have visited various castles and forts in the South Al Batinah Governorate during the first six months of 2023.
15,935 people of various nationalities visited castles and forts in South Al Batinah Governorate during the first half of this year.
Dr. Al-Mu'tasem bin Nasser Al Hilali, Director of the Heritage and Tourism Department in the South Al Batinah Governorate, said that the governorate includes 11 castles and 46 forts. In March 2023, the restoration of Nakhal Fort was completed and offered for investment to the private sector. Work is also underway to restore Rustaq Fort .
"During the last period, the restoration and maintenance of Al-Hazm Castle was completed and it was offered for investment, as well as the restoration and maintenance of Barka Castle and Al-Mansour Castle as part of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism’s efforts to develop and rehabilitate historical monuments in various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, " Al Hilal added.
Al Hilali stressed that the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is striving to restore and maintain historical monuments to be offered for investment, managed and operated by small and medium enterprises and companies specialized in managing castles and forts and promoting them inside and outside the Sultanate of Oman. He stressed that this will contribute to providing job opportunities for citizens after signing the usufruct contract for Nakhal Castle for Investment in Nakhal National Company and the Al Khamis Wall and Tower in the Wilayat of Musannah for Hisn Al Khairat Company.
