Oman reveals ambitious plan to boost its tourism

Muscat: In its efforts to boost tourism and to attract OMR3 billion of private investments in the tourism sector, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has signed nine usufruct (land lease) agreements on Wednesday.

These agreements come within the framework of the ministry’s initiative to set up small and medium tourism projects on government land plots owned by the ministry with an aim to empower small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The projects are distributed in different governorates and include: a 3-star hotel, a 2-star hotel and a rest house in Dhofar, a 3-star resort and a 1-star hotel in the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdar in the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah, a 3-star hotel in the Wilayat of Wadi Bani Khalid and a resort in the Wilayat of Bidiyah in the Governorate of North Al Shariqiyah, a tourism camp in the Wilayat of Ibri in the Governorate of Al Dhahirah and a tourism camp in the Wilayat of Ja’alan Bani Bu Hassan in the Governorate of South Al Sharqiyah.

Salim Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism signed the usufruct agreements with investors representing the companies executing the projects.

Recently, Fitch Solutions upgraded its positive forecast for the Sultanate of Oman tourism sector’s recovery during 2022 and 2023 with stronger growth expected during the mid-term forecasts period 2024- 2026.

The report of Fitch Solutions Agency pointed to remarkable recovery for the tourism sector in the Sultanate which began in the fourth quarter of 2021.  

The report also expected the growth to continue during the upcoming years on account of the economic diversification programmes of Oman Vision 2040. The tourism development plans executed by the government through the programme for recovery from impact of COVID-19 pandemic, the digital marketing initiatives and the announcement of new investments in the tourism sector would also lend strength to the growth, it said.

-With ONA inputs