The plan to develop Cave Hiyour as a proper tourist spot has started taking shape with the project’s foundation ceremony held at the site on Thursday. The project includes a mountain-like walkway, observation platforms, and a restaurant serving international meals, other restaurants on the lines of Al Magbi restaurants in Itin, a camping centre, adventure tourism sites, frankincense trees and many other basic service facilities. Special care has been taken to protect the environment while designing the project.
Cave Hiyour is located at Jabal Samhan in Tawi Atir in the Wilayat of Mirbat. The event to lay the foundation stone was held under the auspices of Abdullah bin Aqeel al Ibrahim, Acting Deputy Governor of Dhofar. The project is being monitored by the Ministry of Tourism with financial support from Salalah Methanol Company (SMC), which has offered RO 192,000 for overall development of the site.
The Cave Hiyour is one of the distinctive caves in Jabal Samhan. It is located at the highest peak of the mountain, which offers a wonderful and unique view through which one can see Mirbat, the mountainous areas and surrounding valleys. Jabal Samhan is one of the highest mountains in the Arabian Peninsula, which is located in the eastern part of the Dhofar mountain range with a height of 2,100 metres. The mountain also contains many caves and natural holes.
Marhoon bin Said al Ameri, Director-General of Tourism in Dhofar Governorate, called the development of Cave Hiyour a major step in line with the ministry’s focus on developing tourism sites in the wake of Salalah getting international attention of tourists.
He stressed on the Ministry of Tourism’s focus finding integrated tourism options between various governorates of the Sultanate and exploiting the strengths of the tourism sector through investment in country’s natural and historical components, and targeting quality projects. These projects, according to him, are bound to have added economic value and benefit the local community.
“Fortunately, tourism is emerging as one of the most vital sectors that contribute effectively to diversification of income sources. This project comes as an addition to the projects of the Ministry of Tourism in different parts of the country,” he said.
Awadh bin Hassan al Shanfari, CEO of Salalah Methanol, said project was in line with the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) with opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which ultimately contributes to the community and the country.
“Our engagements with such projects have proved beneficial for programmes and projects that are beneficial for the Omanis,” owner of Salalah Methanol Company said.
Kaushalendra Singh
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