Muscat: The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT), revealed that the investment position of the projects that are under implementation, which were agreed upon, with various segments of investors in the public and private sectors, during the period of 2021 to 2025, reached 363 projects across all the governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, with a total value of RO 2.290 billion.
The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism targets to reach RO 3 billion worth investments in the tourism sector during the aforementioned period by attracting additional investments worth of RO 700 million by 2025.
The move comes within the framework of the ministry's efforts to promote tourism investments in all sectors, and keep pace with the growing tourism movement in the country.
Salim Mohammad al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, said that the ministry’s efforts in attracting investment come from the standpoint of the developmental role that relies on the tourism sector in accordance with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and the comprehensive plan for developing the tourism sector in Oman.
He pointed out that these investments combine the economic aspect represented by the fact that the sector is one of the potential sectors to achieve economic diversification and channel investments to maximize the utilization of the potentials enjoyed by the Sultanate of Oman while highlighting and preserving the country’s heritage as well.
The minister stressed that attracting investment in the tourism sector always takes into account maximizing the benefit of the tourism and heritage elements in the short and long terms while prioritizing projects required by the tourism market. The step aims to diversify the tourism product and attract multiple categories of visitors.
He also clarified that the investment in the tourism sector also seeks to empower its role in developing the economy of the governorates, through projects that keep pace with the comparative advantages of each governorate, in addition to the benefit of these projects to local communities and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the governorates.
The minister pointed out that, the integrated tourism complexes represent the largest bulk in the volume of investment in the tourism sector. He explained that a number of 12 integrated tourism complexes with an investment value of RO 3.9 billion, are currently being implemented, including RO 1.07 billion as investment value during the period of 2021 to 2025.
These complexes include Al Mouj project, Barr Al Jissah Resort (the port district development), Mandarin Oriental project and Residence, Diyar Ras Al Hadd Resort, Hawana Salalah (Salalah Beach Resort), Yiti Sustainable City, phase two of Mirbat Tourism Project, phase one A, b of Jebel Sifah, Blue City Project, Al Sharq project and Palm Resort project.
The preparation is also taking place for another package of integrated tourism complexes to be located in the Governorate of Muscat, the Governorate of Musandam and the Governorate of South Al Sharqiyah with an estimated total investment value of RO 2.5 billion.
The minister affirmed that the ministry always pays attention to diversifying tourism and recreational components in these complexes, in addition to enhancing aspects of their benefit to local communities and their in-country-value (ICV) by finding attractive opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and generating employment opportunities in the labour market.
He also revealed that some qualitative and multi-use projects with a total investment value of RO 262 million, including Oman Botanic Garden, the Village Project and the Salalah Gardens (The Coconut Farm) project.
Further, a number of projects are currently being set to be developed at Halanaiyat and Dimaniyat Islands with an estimated investment cost of RO 137 million during the period of 2021 to 2025, while efforts are being exerted to attract prestigious hotel marks such as the Four Seasons Hotel.
As for the investment in the hotel's establishments projects, the minister added that a number of 124 hotel establishments have been developed during the period of 2021 to 2022, with a total investment value of RO 139 million, including 4 hotel projects, including Avani Hotel project In the Wilayat of Al Seeb, the Doset D2 Hotel in the Wilayat of Jabal Al Akhadhar, the Intercity Hotel Muscat, and Jumeirah Muscat Hotel in the Governorate of Muscat.
In addition to that, the minister said that there are a number of 120 hotel projects (with an investment cost of less than RO 5 million per project), which includes hotel apartments, guesthouses, heritage inns, green inns, with a total investment value of RO 48.075 million.
He elaborated that a number of 127 new hotel establishment projects with a total investment value of RO 340 million are under implementation, including 14 hotel projects (of an investment cost higher than RO 5 million per project) with ratings ranging from 3 to 5 stars and hotel apartments, with a total investment value of RO 238 million.
Additionally, the minister said that as many as 113 hotel establishments (with an investment cost of less than RO 5 million per facility) are being implemented at an investment cost of RO 102 million, of which 15 projects are under implementation on government lands and 98 projects are under implementation on private lands.
Hotel establishments vary to include resorts and hotels with a rating of one to three stars, luxury camps, tourist camps, green lodges, hotel apartments, guesthouses and rest houses.
The Minister of Heritage and Tourism further said that a number of domestic tourism development projects, which are being implemented through the executive programme of the recovery plan and by the governorates have reached 24 projects, with a value of RO 16.6 million, while work is underway on 14 projects to develop and invest heritage sites and historical monuments, with an investment value of RO 13.8 million.
The minister added that the number of projects to improve museums and private heritage houses reached 8 projects, with an investment value of RO 17,000. He also said that the number of projects for establishing museum exhibition halls in castles and forts reached to 6 projects, at an investment cost of RO 45,000.
There are a number of local tourism development projects being implemented directly by the governorates within the framework of their specializations and through the governorate development programme.
Further requirements for service and tourism facilities to meet the requirements of domestic tourism in the various governorates are expected during the next stage.
Preparations are also underway to invest in 34 historical landmarks, with an investment value of RO 1.884 million, which includes a number of castles, forts, towers, walls, lanes and other monuments in various governorates across Oman. These sites are allocated as investment opportunities for SMEs.
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