MUSCAT: Salem bin Mohammed al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, confirmed that the tourism sector in the Sultanate of Oman is witnessing steady growth in all fields, expressing his hope that the tourism sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) will reach 2.75 per cent during the next two years, compared to 2.4 per cent by the end of 2022.
Al Mahrouqi said the contribution of the Omani tourism sector to the gross domestic product amounted to RO 1.07 billion in 2022 out of total revenues amounting to RO 1.90 billion in the same year. The number of tourists is also constantly rising, both from domestic tourism and the tourist flow from outside the Sultanate of Oman.
He also added that there is an intensive plan to promote all tourism components, and the financial tools and resources that will be employed in this aspect in the coming year have been approved, through qualitative international events that will represent milestones in the promotional plan, most notably the announcement of the Sultanate of Oman as the official partner of the largest international exhibitions in the industry — the Berlin Travel and Tourism Exchange 2024.
Al Mahrouqi pointed out that the targeted investment volume during the comprehensive tourism development plan (2021-2025) is RO 3 billion. There are some challenges facing some investors with regard to financing aspects or some challenges related to existing coalitions, stressing that the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is closely monitoring it and looks at the possibilities and appropriate solutions to these challenges through a programme that is being worked on during this period in cooperation and coordination with the sector’s partners.
There are tourism projects that will be opened during the coming period in the governorates of Oman, and that there is a huge and diversified investment programme that includes all governorates, as this programme is currently being managed and entering into the negotiation phase with a number of investors at the internal and external levels.
With regard to the implementation of tourism development schemes in the governorates, the Minister emphasized that the Ministry focuses on integrated tourism schemes, aimed at developing some promising tourism destinations in line with various sectors and national programmes to guide investment and promotional efforts towards maximizing the use of such schemes, serving as integrated destinations for tourists, maximizing business opportunities and creating jobs.
The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is working on a special programme for the labour market in the tourism sector in direct cooperation with the National Employment Programme, to achieve a number of objectives related to job resettlement, training and the creation of professional standards for tourism sector jobs, including an initiative to qualify a number of Omanis to assume the posts of general managers of four and five-star hotels.
Al Mahrouqi explained that the growth of the tourism sector is accompanied by responsibilities regarding the effects that may result from the intensity of the tourism movement so that there is no damage to the environment and to the concern of local communities. The Ministry therefore works through a special sustainability programme covering economic, social and environmental aspects tourism, together with the adoption of the local content policy, which aims primarily to benefit communities from tourism and its sustainability. — ONA
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