The Sultanate of Oman will be the centre of attraction at the 5th International Exhibition of Leisure and Marine Tourism in France where more than 100,000 visitors from across the world will be thronging to see the marine products and services displayed by exhibitors from over 30 countries.
The first guest of honour from the Middle East, Oman is represented by the Ministry of Tourism at Grand Pavois occupying the 700-square meters-grand pavilion. It will display the nation’s rich marine heritage and culture through art and cultural activities.
Oman will also take part in the International In-Water Boat Show opening on October 27 and running until October 2, 2017.
“The Omani and French relationship have always been strong in various field and across different stages of the history”, Ahmed Nasser al Mahrizi, Minister of Tourism, said.
“Choosing the Sultanate to be the guest of honour in this year’s edition of the International In-Water Boat Show in La Rochelle is affirming the appreciation and the importance of the Sultanate’s maritime history, its geographical location, as well as its navigation and tourism status in the Middle East,” he added.
The pavilion assigned to Oman will be divided into eight sub sections with each booth representing something uniquely Oman. One of the booths will showcase Oman’s public and private partnership scenario while another will provide information on tourist destinations. Another will show visual presentation of the blessed Renaissance of the country and cultural elements of the environment and the Omani society.
A section will be dedicated in hosting art and cultural performances, another dedicated to providing Omani hospitality and giving visitors a chance to taste traditional ‘kahwa’, dates and Omani sweets.
The last two of the sections will be dedicated to the mini exhibition on traditional craft industries and Omani photo exhibition. The photo exhibition pavilion will showcase some of the excellent creations of local photographers and some artists and calligraphers in action.
The eighth pavilion is dedicated to the traditional performing arts where authentic Omani music will be played live and dances showcased. Visitors will be in for a true slice of Omani lifestyle, seafaring dances and songs.
The show at La Rouchelle is considered as an important platform to promote everything new and distinctive in the leisure and marine tourism sector.
Located in the port of Minimes, and with an area of 100 thousand square meters, the show attracts more than 800 exhibitors from more than 30 countries from the globe.
The number of visitors who are interested in this exhibition reaches 90 thousand annually. Also, about 750 of the latest and most luxurious yachts and boats are being exhibited. Additionally, visitors and interested parties will be oriented with the most prominent institutions, associations and international factories which specialised in marine tourism’s products, services and navigation activities. More than 200 journalists who specialised in tourism will participate to provide international coverage for the show, as it will be accompanied by a huge media campaign targeting this annual and global tourism event.
For seven days, the port city of La Rochelle will be the melting pot of diverse seafaring cultures and traditions as a cross section of countries will be represented by their respective maritime and tourism ministries and experts in tourism as well as maritime heritage will be sharing the podium with each other.
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