Tuesday 27 / May / 2025
Muscat: The national workshop on "Addressing Governance Challenges in Heritage and Tourism Development Management with the Governorates" kicked off on Monday in Muscat.
The event brings together representatives from 11 governorates, 17 government and supporting entities, as well as a number of experts and specialists in governance, planning, and tourism development. The four-day event aims to enhance institutional integration with the governorates, promote decentralisation in the heritage and tourism sectors, and address governance challenges in these fields.
Organised by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in collaboration with the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit and several government and private entities, the workshop seeks to develop comprehensive and sustainable solutions for improving and financing tourism service facilities. This initiative supports sustainable development goals, enhances institutional efficiency, and strengthens public-private partnerships.
Azzan Qasim Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism, stated that the workshop is part of a series of specialised sessions conducted by the ministry to tackle challenges in the heritage and tourism sectors. He emphasised the ministry’s commitment to fostering institutional integration with its partners and developing effective governance mechanisms that contribute to the national economy and reinforce Oman’s cultural identity.
Al Busaidi added that the workshop aims to identify existing challenges, exchange insights and expertise, and formulate practical, actionable solutions in partnership with governorates and relevant stakeholders. This ensures tangible developmental impact and aligns with the government’s direction toward decentralisation in governorate development.
The undersecretary also highlighted the importance of strengthening public-private partnerships, empowering local communities to actively participate in tourism development, and preserving cultural heritage for future generations.
The workshop focuses on three key pillars; The first pillar is “Governance and Institutional Integration – Enhancing coordination among stakeholders to ensure effective management and integrated developmental goals.”
The second pillar focuses on “Investment Governance and Tourism Development– Improving the investment climate and supporting tourism sector initiatives to boost attractiveness and sustainable growth opportunities.”
Meanwhile, the third pillar revolves around the “Development of Tourism and Public Service Facilities – Upgrading infrastructure and essential tourism facilities to provide an exceptional visitor experience and support long-term heritage and tourism development plans.”
The event featured presentations on the governorates’ role in heritage and tourism development, the ministry’s mandates related to governorates, governance and decentralization principles, and their positive impact on institutional efficiency. Additionally, models for sustainable tourism governance were discussed to ensure balanced sector growth in line with national objectives.
This workshop is part of a series of initiatives by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, in collaboration with strategic partners, under the programme to address challenges in the heritage and tourism sectors. The program aims to achieve balanced and comprehensive development across Oman’s governorates and fulfill the national goals of Oman Vision 2040.
