New hotels to add 5,000-plus rooms over 2017-18

FROM P13 private sector to establish a unique tourism attraction in Muscat that reflects old Omani souqs and neighbourhoods in a modern manner, including restaurants, coffee shops and stores.

The ministry will grant the winning proposal a suitable site on a long-term lease that can be renewed for 50 years. This initiative comes as part of the objectives of the Omani tourism strategy to preserve the essence of the Omani heritage and promote Oman as a rich and diverse destination.

The idea of the competition is to encourage and bring to the forefront Omani architecture that is symbolised by the Sultanate’s fascinating forts, castles, houses, neighbourhoods and traditional souqs.

Earlier this year, the ministry signed agreements for the Qurayat Tourism complex involving an investment of RO 385 million, as well as the Naseem Al Sabah development costing around RO 400 million.

Through the development of tourism complexes, the ministry aims to achieve its vision of developing the tourism sector in line with the Omani Tourism Strategy 2040, which calls for enhancing infrastructure, increasing the number of hotel rooms and the quality of the hotel services, establishing recreational facilities, and generating value to the community.

The Sultanate is also gearing up to host international events and become a worldwide MICE destination, after the establishment of the Oman Convention Bureau that aims to support international and local companies in organising their events in Oman.

The Sultanate, represented by the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Heritage, will host the 2nd World Tourism and Culture Conference in collaboration with the Unesco, during December 11-12 at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The tourism industry is also implementing the following 14 tourismrelated initiatives: developing recreational facilities, natural landscapes, cultural attractions, adventure tourism locations, food facilities, environment investment, annual events calendar, conferences and promotions unit, electronic tourism services, activating the tourism development fund, facilitating the executing of the tourism projects, enhancing customer service in the tourism projects, and visagranting facilities.