July 14, 2006

THE TOURISM MINISTER, PRESENTS THE MAJLIS AL SHURA WITH A DECLARATION ON HER MINISTRY'S ACHIEVEMENTS, PLANS AND PROGRAMMES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM SECTOR IN THE SULTANATE OF OMAN. THE TOURISM SECTOR HAS BECOME A VITAL ALTERNATIVE IN THE STRATEGY OF DIVERSIFICATION OF INCOME SOURCES. Oman's Majlis Al Shura held its 13th session at the third annual sitting (2005-2006) for its fifth term under the chairmanship of Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Qatabi, Majlis president. Dr Rajiha bint Abdul Amir bin Ali, tourism minister, presented the Majlis with a declaration on her ministry's achievements, plans and programmes for the development of tourism sector in the Sultanate. The Majlis discussed the statement of the tourism minister and reviewed the report of the activities of the Majlis's secretariat-general during the second term of its current annual sitting of the fifth term. In his opening speech, Al Qatabi expressed the appreciation of the Majlis for the secretariat-general of the Council of Ministers with respect to the continued cooperation in the preparations for delivery of the ministerial statements before the Majlis. He ascribed the significance of the current session of the Majlis to the significance of the sector the minister's speech tackles, noting that the tourism sector since endorsement of the future vision of the Omani Economy 2020, has become a vital alternative in the strategy of diversification of income sources. He said the Maljis, in its discussions in the current annual sitting, dealt with a number of issues and concluded in a number of reports and recommendations in several fields covered by the Seventh Five-Year Plan 2006/2010 and the state budget 2006. Dr Rajiha, in her speech, said the future vision of tourism sector was aimed at making the Sultanate a tourism destination and increase of the tourism sector's contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 3 per cent and increasing the role of private sector in the tourism activities in addition to increase of the percentage of national manpower to 80 from the total employees of the tourism sector. She said the assessment of the performance of the tourism sector indicates that there are a number of challenges that face the said sector and which require setting up of the necessary polices and mechanisms to lessen their impacts on its progress and development, adding that a strategy was set up for development of tourism sector, which is based on three pillars, which are recognition of the tourism sector as a vital and a major sector that should be developed, preservation of natural resources and the Omani society cultural identity and the supervision of the government on the activities of tourism sector. The tourism sector achieved an annual growth of 9 per cent during 2000/2005 exceeding the growth rate proposed during in the Sixth Five-Year plan . She said that the hotel revenues increased to RO78.6 million in 2005 compared to RO45.7 million in 2000 by 11.5 per cent (during 2000/2005), noting that the number of hotels and other accommodation facilities increased from 100 in 2000 to 153 facilities in 2005 and the number of employees in the hotel sector increased from 4,093 in 2000 to 5,366 in 2005 at an annual growth of 5.6 per cent and the Omanisation percentage in the same sector increased from 36.9 per cent in 2000 to 47.7 per cent in 2005. Majlis Al Shura held its 14th session of the fifth term's third annual sitting for 2005-2006 under the chairmanship of Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Qatabi, chairman of Majlis Al Shura. Majlis Al Shura members continued debating different topics in the statement made by Dr Rajiha bint Abdul Amir bin Ali, tourism minister. Dr Rajiha delivered a comprehensive statement on 'The trend of tourism sector and its growth, 'the futuristic vision of tourism development in the Sultanate' and its contribution in diversification of national income and employment of Omani citizens, the means to encourage domestic tourism, approved plans and programmes to encourage tourism sector and promote awareness about tourism. The tourism minister replying to inquires by the Majlis members, indicated the importance given by the Tourism Ministry for local tourism as being a major component in the strategy of developing tourism sector and encourage private sector to be a major investor in tourism. Majlis Al Shura also discussed in the session the remaining items on its agenda, discussion and approval of the Majlis annual budget for 2007, looking into the ministerial statements proposed to the Majlis during the fourth annual session 2006-2007 of the current term. The Majlis concluded the activities of its 14th session of fifth term's third annual sitting. Oman is a country of enormous diversity and natural beauty, which, while it has much to attract the discerning traveller, had until recent years been largely overlooked by international tourists. The government was anxious not to promote the Sultanate to tourists until it was ready to accommodate them. Now, with an enviable infrastructure securely in place, a wide range of international hotels and a wealth of things to see and do, Oman is ready to offer its traditional hospitality to visitors from around the world. By the end of 2004, the number of hotels and hotel apartments in the country stood at 146 and 9,8 respectively. Work on developing further facilities has been constantly ongoing. Indicative of the importance the government affords this sector was the issue of Royal Decree No. 61/2004, establishing a Ministry of Tourism and appointing a woman as its minister. The Sultanate of Oman is situated on the southeast corner of the Arabian Peninsula and is located between Latitudes 16° 40' and 26° 20' North and Longitudes 51° 50' and 59° 40' East. The coastline extends 1,700 Km from the Strait of Hormuz in the north, to the borders of the Republic of Yemen in the south and overlooks three seas: the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The Sultanate borders Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the West; the United Arab Emirates in the Northeast, the Republic of Yemen in the South; the Strait of Hormuz in the North and the Arabian Sea in the East. The Musandam Peninsula forms the country's northern tip, and is separated from the rest of the Sultanate by United Arab Emirates' eastern coast and includes the only coast the Sultanate has on the Arabian Gulf. Musandam is just over 50 Km (30 miles) south of the Islamic Republic of Iran across the Strait of Hormuz. The total land area is around 309,500 Km2 and it is the third largest country in the Arabian Peninsula. Oman possesses a rich diverse topography ranging from rugged mountains and rocky deepwater fjords in the North, to the spectacular dunes of Sharqiyah (Wahiba) Sands and two large salt flats in the centre, to the lush green hills of Dhofar region in the South, with rugged coasts and placid beaches stretching along the 1,700 Km coastline. The northern coastal strip along the Gulf of Oman is known as the Batinah Coast; a narrow fertile plain separated from the rest of the country by the Hajar Mountains. The highest peak is Jabal Shams (Sun Mountain) at 3,075 m. The southern slopes of the range are notable for their oasis towns where date groves flourish in the dry desert air. In the south lies the second mountain range in Oman; the Qara Mountains, which attracts the light monsoon rains during the mid-summer months, turning them green with vegetation whose roots help delay the effects of erosion resulting in a soft rolling landscape more akin to central Africa. As in the north, a narrow fertile coast plain lies between the mountains and the sea at whose centre Salalah lies, surrounded by lush vegetable farms and coconut groves. The varied geography of the Sultanate resulted in a wide variety of climatic conditions. Although lying in the tropics, th Sultanate is subject to seasonal changes like the more temperate regions of the world. The hottest months are June through August. The summer monsoon just touches the southern coast of Dhofar during these months bringing regular light rain to Salalah and reducing the average daytime highs to 30° C. The most pleasant months to visit Oman are mid October through March when daytime temperatures fall into the lower 30s and below. Rainfall varies but in general remains sparse and irregular. In the south most of the year's rainfall occurs during the summer monsoon months. In the north the opposite occurs. Here most rain comes from occasional winter storms which descend out of the eastern Mediterranean during the months of January through March, depositing an annual average of 10 cm of rain on the capital area. A legacy that has been passed on from generation to generation; the art, the culture, the folklore and the artistry has to be seen. But there is much more in the heart of Oman to explore: the sense of respect for time, for people, and for nature. Come and taste a part of Oman's rich heritage, kept alive and unchanged for generations. It may help you understand tomorrow a little better. The Sultanate enjoys an unspoiled culture and traditional lifestyle in almost every aspect. Even in its modernity, Oman is distinctly Arabic and offers many unique old-world wonders. With a coastline of 1700km, Oman offers some of the cleanest, most stunning beaches. Some of the beaches in the Muscat capital area include Aviation Beach, or Shell Beach, which is located near the Civil Aviation Club in Al Azaiba, Qurum Beach, Bandar Jissah is located near Qantab, on the way to Al Bustan, Marjan Beach, near Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), is quiet during the day, but tends to get livelier in the early evenings. It has some small coral reefs, perfect for the novice snorkeller, as one doesn't have to swim too far out before seeing the likes of clown fish, parrot fish, sea cucumbers and occasionally, turtles and rays. Local fishermen can be seen spearing cuttlefish, as well as many other beaches. The efforts of the Sultanate of Oman's ministry of tourism to triple tourism in the country by 2010 have not been in vain. The country is rapidly coming to be regarded by many to be one of the most prominent emerging markets in the GCC and the surge in the Sultanate's popularity in recent years has raised hopes within the tourism sector that the next few years will be a boom time for Oman. Since its inception in 2004, the Omani ministry of tourism has been proactive in driving what Zamora refers to as the country's "transition". Relaxed visa regulations now make it easier for travellers from 76 nations to visit the country, and the government has been working towards updating the country's tourism strategy as part of its current five-year plan. While public and private investment in the tourism sector over the last decade exceeded RO200 million (US $5.2 million), preliminary estimates are that the investment in this sector is set to double in the next five years. There are on-going projects to improve the transportation infrastructure and communications systems within the Sultanate, and the construction of a new terminal at Oman International Airport is due for completion this year. Tourism-sector specific infrastructure, comprising hotels, restaurants and the entertainment sector, also continues to show strong growth as major hotel chains seek to capitalise on the country's unique potential for attracting both leisure and business travel clientele. Traditionally, Oman has always been a favourite destination with travellers from GCC countries, and indeed the country still receives around 50% of its visitors from the neighbouring United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, hotel chain Shangri-La is hoping to help diversify the country's visitor profile with its new Barr Al Jassah Resort & Spa. After months of eager anticipation two of the resort's hotels are now open for business. "The resort targets mainly the GCC and European markets. The five-star Al Waha hotel opened in January, offering 302 bedrooms, with a room size from 37m including balcony or patio, and facilities including a kids' club, children's pools, and babysitting facilities to target the family holiday market. The second of the resort's hotels, the 198-room Al Bandar, opened in February and targets the business and corporate market, promoting itself as a retreat for meetings and banquets. The five-star deluxe property is the focal point of the entire resort as it is home to the majority of the restaurants and bars, a souvenir souq, ten conference and meetings rooms, and the 700-seater Barr Al Jissah Ballroom. The final hotel in the resort, the Al Husn hotel, is a six-star deluxe property with 180 bedrooms. Rich in Arabic design and Omani feel, the hotel will open in April, appealing to the luxury travel market with its private beach and gymnasium facilities for guests, a 500m royal suite, and high-class bars and restaurants. The resort, as a whole, has boosted the total five-star inventory in the Omani market by 60% according Shangri-La's Loughland. "The new resort offers amazing groundbreaking possibilities, and with facilities such as the Chi spa, the 1000-seat outdoor amphitheatre, and the marina and dive centre, we hope to be able to really put Oman on the map," Loughland says. Ejabyah, a destination management company based in Muscat, is also working in conjunction with the ministry of tourism to grow its international client base. Together with the ministry's system of market-based representatives, which promote Oman through various activities and promotional campaigns in countries across Europe, Ejabyah is helping to build awareness of Oman, particularly with customers in the UK, Germany, France and Italy. In light of the increased interest in all aspects of its facilities, the 100-room, chalet-style hotel has carried out a host of upgrades and improvements. The Al Sawadi Beach has replaced furniture and fixtures in its guest rooms, and upgraded the equipment of its PADI licensed dive centre, acquiring an additional boat to transport the ever-growing number of divers to the Dimaniyat islands. Two new restaurants have also been opened to better cater to the different tastes of its customers, with The Fire & Spice serving Far Eastern and Asian cuisines and the Al Khanjar serving traditional Omani dishes. Finally, the hotel has introduced better value for money with its all-inclusive packages, with and without diving. As with many of Oman's hotels, the Al Sawadi Beach found that with improved facilities came a more diverse range of visitors during 2005. Dr Rajiha bint Abdul Ameer bin Ali, Minister of Tourism, pointed out that environmental tourism had emerged the world over as a leading element in drawing holidaymakers. Dr Rajiha revealed that the government would announce a number of new projects to boost the country's tourism sector in the near future. She underlined that the Sultanate had always been "aware of the importance of maintaining a balance between development requirements and protecting the environment." The country's development plans had right from the beginning stressed the need to maintain and protect the environment by adhering to the international standards related to the issue, he said, adding: "Oman has realised since the dawn of its renaissance the importance of balancing the needs of modernisation and protection of environment through a strong and comprehensive strategy that guarantees prosperity for its people. Oman is working to develop the tourism industry and give it priority in future development programmes in order to promote the country's diverse natural and environmental wealth." She added. The Minister said considerable emphasis had also been placed on training human resources and drawing up the necessary legislative and institutional framework. She also highlighted tourism's role in generating job opportunities. Oman truly welcomes travellers. Oman stands as one of the countries where tourists can enjoy a safe environment," says Minister of Tourism Dr. Rajiha bint Abdul Ameer Ali. Oman's tourism potential is enormous and continues to grow. The Tourism Minister Dr Rajha bint Abdul Ameer bin Ali said. "A detailed marketing and advertising strategy has been set in place, which is a prerequisite if any success has to be achieved," she added. "Easing the entry visa regime is constantly discussed and a number of new regulations have been introduced in recent times." According to the minister, Oman is exerting its utmost effort to establish a comprehensive database. In this regard, the Ministry is coordinating with the World Tourism Organization and the Ministry of National Economy to build and operate the system of Tourism Satellite Account (TSA). Oman's tourism industry is on a roll. The tourism sector had plenty to celebrate last year. Hoteliers enjoyed strong profitability in 2005. With highest occupancy rates ever and this trend continues to gather greater momentum in 2006. Oman's fast-expanding portfolio of hotels and hotel apartments posted very encouraging performance, wresting the initiative from other tourist destinations in the region. The Sultanate is a leading example of a country that has used its capital from oil and injected it into building the country's infrastructure to provide for its flourishing leisure and business tourism. The Ministry of Tourism has increased international exposure in assured markets and its influence will attract a large number of tourists. The Tourism Minister Dr. Rajiha bint Abdul Ameer bin Ali said: "Tourism is growing in importance and is going to be a principal driver of the country's economic development in the near future. The formation of the Tourism Ministry in 2004 has consolidated Oman's tourism functions into one organisation and the ministry has already introduced several steps to promote tourism industry to grow and prosper. Our policy is to work closely with the private sector to further develop international markets for Oman tourism. We want to make sure that Oman is and continues to be a destination of choice with every world class tourist and traveller."