OMAN: Oman Tourism Strategy Implemented Since Beginning Of 2016

Ahmed bin Nasser al Mehrzi, Minister of Tourism, said that Oman Tourism Strategy, which is being implemented since the beginning of 2016 after it was approved by the Council of Ministers, focuses on several objectives, the foremost of which is enhancing domestic tourism, particularly the recreational sector, which the ministry is currently executing. In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), he pointed out that the domestic tourism, its trends and objectives, as well as due to its importance, dominated about 50 per cent from the strategy. He added that this requires utilities and installations that meet demands of the tourist as the Omani tourist looks for recreational tourism related-installations and services.

Al Mehrzi pointed out that the total investments expected for this sector during the upcoming years exceed RO one billion. He added that there are projects being implemented, others were issued licences to be established and other projects understudy. The Minister of Tourism further said that among the recreational tourism projects, which were approved, include the construction of two waterparks in Salalah and the other world-class waterpark that will be established by one of the pension funds in Al Athaibah in the Governorate of Muscat, in addition to a project for Muscat Municipality, in cooperation with one of the investment companies to establish a world-class recreational city in the Wilayat of Al Seeb, a family recreational project in the Wilayat of Al Musannah stretching over 5 million square meters and a project to set up a zoo as the investor will be supported for this project, as well as other upcoming projects.

Al Mehrzi affirmed that as planned by 2020, which the end of the current five-year plan, there will be 20,000 hotel rooms “3 to 5 stars” in the Sultanate. He explained that if the tourism sector continues to grow, the Sultanate will achieve this figure before 2018. He added that the strategy includes the construction of 50,000 hotel rooms “3 stars and above” during the next 25 years with permitting to build budget hotel rooms, but they will not be listed within the strategy. The Minister of Tourism unveiled that Masirah Island will witness during the upcoming period the implementation of a tourist project that aims at enhancing the tourism sector in the island that enjoys good tourist potentials. He pointed out that two sites were presented before an investor as one of the two sites is selected to set up yachts marina, tourist resort and chalets.

He stressed the necessity of operating a commercial airline route to Masirah Island to facilitate travel to the island and activate tourist and economic movement, especially after the remarkable success made by the National Ferries Company (NFC) in the number of passengers from and to the island.