Guides key to sustainable tourism development

MUSCAT: The Sultanate, represented by the Ministry of Tourism, on Sunday hosted the official celebration of the Arab Tourism Day under the theme “Tourism and Sustainable Development”.

The event coincides with the International Day of the Tourist Guide, which falls on February 21 of every year.

The celebration was held in the presence of Maitha bint Saif al Mahrouqiyah, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, and Dr Bandar bin Fahd al Fahid, Chairman of the Arab Tourism Organization (ATO).

Al Mahrouqiyah in her speech said the Arab Tourism Organization chose February 24 as a day of the Arab Tourism to commemorate the birth of the Arab Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta. Ibn Battuta is considered one of the most famous travellers of all time. During the ceremony, Ahmed bin Nasser al Mehrzi, Minister of Tourism, was awarded the Arab Tourism Key for the year 2018.

He is the second person in the Arab world to receive this honour after Prince Faisal bin Mish’al bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Al Qassim Region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Al Mahrouqiyah received the Arab Tourism Key on behalf of the Minister of Tourism.

The event celebrated the Omani tourist guides on the occasion of the International Day of the Tourist Guide, in addition to giving a presentation that highlighted the major efforts exerted by the ministry and contribution of tour guides in the tourism sector.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, the under-secretary of the Ministry Tourism opened an exhibition showcasing initiatives and projects for several concerned, academic and student agencies and institutions. The exhibition shed light on the efforts made by the SMEs, the public and private sectors in promoting tourism.