Focus on caves in next stage of tourism development in Oman

Muscat: Oman’s caves will soon receive greater attention under the National Programme for Enhancing Economic Diversification (Tanfeedh) tourism initiative.
The Sahour Cave in Dhofar, Majlis Al Jinn in Quriyat, and Al Kitan Cave in Ibra are just some of Oman’s prominent caves.
The Ministry of Tourism is currently planning to exploit various tourism resources in the various governorates to promote the growth of tourism in each area through the development and investment of the caves.
Tanfeedh developed 15 tourism initiatives to enhance the tourism sector in the Sultanate. Such initiatives include activities of nature and adventure, which aim to encourage private investment in natural sites.
Dawood Al Rashdi, acting director of the Tourism Product Development Department at the Ministry of Tourism, believes that the ministry’s prior success in rehabilitations will encourage investment.
“After the success achieved in rehabilitating and developing the Al Hoota cave in A’Dakhaliyah, the ministry seeks to develop and invest in three other caves and the study of a recently discovered cave in Al Jabel Al Akhdhar.”
“On April 9, the ministry allowed companies to compete in order to obtain the best vision for tourism development and investment in the Al Kitan Cave. Companies were given four months to come up with a vision,” Al Rashdi said.
Andrew Lawrence, advisor at the Ministry of Tourism, said the Sultanate has many tourists, cultural and heritage elements that can be used as attractions for tourists around the world.
“The Sultanate is rich in many reserves, natural caves, sand dunes, mountain ranges, islands and water springs that should be used to promote the tourism position of the Sultanate.”
“The Ministry of Tourism is making continuous efforts to take advantage of natural caves, which represent an important tourist value,” he added.