Muscat: From the beginning of January to the end of October this year, 174 permits were granted for tourism investment projects, up from 117 permits during the corresponding period in 2024, an increase of 48.7 per cent, according to the Heritage and Tourism Department in South Al Batinah.

Dr. Al-Mu’tasim bin Nasser Al-Hilali, Director of the department, told the Oman News Agency that the licensed activities covered a wide range of tourism services, including green lodges, guesthouses, tourist trip organisers, travel agencies, hotels, tourist transport services, rest houses and heritage lodges.

He noted that Barka accounted for the largest share of licensed projects, hosting 141 projects, representing 81 per cent of the total permits issued during the period. This was followed by Al-Musannah with 18 projects (10.3 per cent). The remaining permits were distributed across other wilayats, including Nakhl with six projects, Al-Rustaq with five projects, and Al-Awabi and Wadi Al-Maawil with two projects each.

Guesthouses topped the list of licensed projects, with 119 guesthouses, accounting for 68.3 per cent of all permits issued. Licences for organising tourist trips came next with 26 permits, followed by 14 travel agency licences and 11 green lodge licences. The remaining permits included one licence each for hotel activities, rest houses, heritage lodges and tourist transport.

Highlighting the growing importance of green lodges, Dr. Al-Hilali said the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism introduced the green lodge activity in 2015 to diversify tourism products and hotel establishments in line with evolving sector requirements. He explained that green lodges offer visitors a quiet recreational environment amid natural oases and varied landscapes, enhancing the diversity of tourist experiences while catering to families and large groups due to their spacious layouts.

Updated statistics show that the number of green lodges in South Al Batinah has reached 48 establishments, with Barka leading at 33 lodges, followed by Al-Musannah with 10, Al-Rustaq and Nakhl with two each, and Wadi Al-Maawil with one lodge.

Dr. Al-Hilali added that the Ministry, in coordination with relevant government bodies, has worked to simplify and accelerate licensing procedures for green lodges, delegating approval powers to governorate-level departments once required conditions are met.

On tourism promotion, he said the department has rolled out several initiatives since the start of the winter season to boost local and international tourism. These included a heritage event titled “Nostalgia for the Past”, organised in cooperation with the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Al-Musannah to mark World Tourism Day, and an adventure tourism event, “Oman Cliffs”, held in Hadash village to promote mountain trails and attract experienced adventure enthusiasts in collaboration with a licensed specialist operator.