Muscat: Misfat Al Abriyeen (around 200 km from Muscat) situated in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate was among the Best Tourism Villages, which was announced by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) for the first time two years ago in 2021.
No wilayat in any governorate from the Sultanate of Oman has made it to that elite list since, including this year, when the new list of Best Tourism Villages was announced recently.
According to UNWTO, what makes Misfat Al Abriyeen stand out among other villages in the country is that it is a village with a self-sustaining cohesive community based on the ancient falaj irrigation systems for around 2,000 years.
"Misfat Al Abriyeen is a fully functioning, self-sufficient, and networked rural unit that also plays an important role in the creation of a sustainable future for the country following ‘Oman Vision 2040’ through tourism and heritage-led initiatives. The tourism-led initiatives under its flagship residents’ cooperative, Al Misfat Al Ahlia, seek to create jobs for local people and opportunities for local and regional businesses, optimizing the sustainable use of natural and human resources in the area."
Misfat al Abriyeen Tourism's strategy goals are to focus on the following key aspects — community cooperation and resilience, developing and strengthening the flagship community cooperative, according to UNWTO.
"The village has worked towards the broad goals of wider environmental protection, sanitation, domestic and agricultural water management, traffic reduction, and sustainable energy production due to solar panels microturbines, and energy storage systems. The village has developed five Bed-and-Breakfast facilities through guest houses that provide local rural values, and offer food and beverage supplied by the local community members." UNWTO said.
The Best Tourism Villages 2023 recognized villages that are leading the way in nurturing rural areas and preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values, and culinary traditions.
In the third edition, 54 villages from all governorates were selected from almost 260 applications.
Around 20 villages joined the Upgrade Programme, and all 74 villages are now part of the UNWTO Best Tourism Villages Network. The villages were named during the UNWTO General Assembly that took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
“Tourism can be a powerful force for inclusivity, empowering local communities and distributing benefits across governorates," emphasizes UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “This initiative acknowledges villages that have harnessed tourism as a catalyst for their development and well-being.”
Launched in 2021, the Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO initiative is part of the UNWTO Tourism for Rural Development Programme. The Programme works to foster development and inclusion in rural areas, combat depopulation, advance innovation and value chain integration through tourism, and encourage sustainable practices.
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