Framework for development of culture statistics discussed

MUSCAT: The first meeting to discuss the development of culture statistics was held at the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) on Monday. The participants reviewed a presentation of the national framework for culture statistics.

The participants also discussed the framework of culture statistics of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which seeks to organise cultural statistics at the international and national levels.

Cultural concepts and terms have been studied through the framework of UNESCO. The concerns of international organisations on culture statistics and the uses of these statistics have been dealt with in the annual statistical book issued by the NCSI, in addition to the statistics of mosques and religious schools.

Mechanisms for discussion of the metadata of cultural statistics were also developed and the scope of these data was expanded to include the geographic information system (GIS) coordinates for archaeological, historical, religious and natural heritage sites.

During the next phase and within the framework of the national culture all concepts and terminology related to cultural statistics are expected to be reviewed and updated to be able to determine what has not been included as cultural objects and determine the GIS coordinates of archaeological, historical and religious sites in the Sultanate.