Muscat – The initiative focuses on ‘lower-tier projects’, aiming to develop local attractions, springs, valleys, and historic sites. This approach prioritizes projects that benefit the local economy, fostering development in communities and empowering small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). It also seeks to create new job opportunities for Omanis within the governorates.
H.E. Dr. Nasser bin Rashid Al Maawali, Undersecretary of Economy, highlighted that this initiative marks a significant phase in Oman’s economic transformation, with the prize fund standing at RO 15 million.
Governorates will submit their projects for evaluation by a technical committee, in collaboration with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, based on specific criteria. The award could be granted to one or multiple governorates, not exceeding the total prize value.
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Dr. Al Maawali explained that the initiative is structured as a competition among governorates, encouraging them to propose tourism projects and initiatives that capitalize on their unique strengths. This competitive approach aims to elevate tourist destinations across Oman.
It is designed to promote spatial development and ensure comprehensive, balanced growth throughout the governorates, integrating all regions into the broader developmental agenda.
“One of the key objectives is to enhance economic diversification and local content, providing job opportunities for Omanis that harness economic potential and improve competitiveness within each governorate,” Dr. Al Maawali stated.
Applications for the award will commence this year, with results and project presentations scheduled for 2025. The initiative emphasizes lower-tier projects in the tourism sector, aiming to develop local attractions such as springs, valleys, and ancient pathways to benefit the governorates’ local development.
Dr. Al Maawali emphasized that these projects are expected to boost the number of both local and international visitors, thereby increasing the tourism sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product. This development will not only benefit local communities and SMEs but also enhance the overall competitiveness of the tourism sector in Oman’s governorates.
