NEW HOTSPOT: Move to position Musandam Governorate as destination for adventure tourism
Construction work has commenced on the Sultanate of Oman’s first zip-line project at Khasab in Musandam Governorate – a joint initiative of Omran Group and the Office of the Minister of State and Governor of Musandam, aimed at positioning this rugged mountainous region as a destination for adventure tourism.
Dubai-based HPS Play Company, a specialist in the design, manufacture and installation of adventure and playground equipment, has been contracted to design and build the facility in the proximity of Atana Khasab, a leading hotel property that forms part of Omran’s hospitality portfolio.
Spanning a distance of 1,500 metres, the zip-line starts from a nearby mountain elevation at a height of about 250-metres above sea level and ends close to the hotel.
A number of contractors have also been appointed to provide related engineering and aerial survey services, as well as construct an access road to the mountaintop site of the zip-line.
Omran had earlier announced that the zip-line initiative would be part of an array of activities designed to attract adventure-minded visitors to Khasab and other parts of the governorate.
The list includes via ferrata, hiking trails, cross isthmus and mountain biking trails, aimed at offering unique experiences to all kinds of tourists.
Zip-lines typically form an integral part of the infrastructure offered by any resort or destination being promoted as a hotspot for adventure tourism.
Zip-lines are also planned in Al Jabal al Akhdar, (Misfat al Abriyeen) Jabal Shams, and Dhofar Governorate, among other locations. They are key to jumpstarting the growth of domestic tourism around scenic natural locales characterised by mountains and wadis.
Significantly, the zip-line project will complement Musandam’s tourist offerings, which is currently focused predominantly on its stunning marine attractions characterised by its enchanting fjords, underwater wealth and dolphin and whale watching opportunities.
Onshore, the governorate’s soaring mountains and plunging ravines afford opportunities for trekking and hiking activities.
Adding a new component to its diverse tourism offering is a new amphibious aircraft service being introduced for the first time in the Sultanate of Oman.
Last month, the Civil Aviation Authority green-lighted applications from two companies to provide seaplane services, which are expected to cover Musandam as well.
Well-known developer Muscat National Development and Investment Company (ASAAS) is also developing the Bassah Beach site in Wilayat Khasab into a four-star resort combined with a public park.
The Sultanate of Oman’s strategically important, northernmost enclave overlooking the Strait of Hormuz is also the focus of wider development encompassing manufacturing, higher education, ports and maritime transportation and food security.
In June, in response to the Royal Directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Council of Ministers issued guidelines for, among other things, the establishment of a branch of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in the governorate, in addition to the creation of a strategic stockpile of essential food commodities and medicines.
Additionally, Khasab Port will be upgraded into a logistics hub to stimulate imports and exports, as well as attract direct shipping lines. Furthermore, a new industrial city for light and medium industries will be established at Mahas in Khasab Wilayat, while economic and tourism zones will be delineated across the region to catalyse investment inflows.
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