MUSCAT : The four-day workshop, held from May 26 to 29, 2025, brings together representatives from 11 governorates and 17 government and private entities, alongside experts and specialists in governance, planning, and tourism development.

The workshop, dedicated to ‘Addressing the Challenges of Governance in Heritage and Tourism Development Management with Governorates’, aims to enhance institutional integration with the governorates and achieve decentralisation in the heritage and tourism sectors.

It also aims to address challenges facing the governance of these two sectors and find comprehensive and sustainable solutions for developing and financing tourism service facilities, thereby supporting sustainable development goals, enhancing institutional performance, and activating public-private partnerships.

In his opening remarks, His Excellency Azzan bin Qasim Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism, highlighted the workshop as part of a series of specialised initiatives by the Ministry to address sector-specific challenges. He underscored the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with partners and establishing effective governance mechanisms to bolster the national economy and preserve Omani cultural identity.

“Through this workshop, we seek to identify existing challenges, exchange visions and experiences, and formulate practical solutions and implementable initiatives in partnership with the governorates and relevant entities. This will ensure a tangible development and translate the government’s decentralisation approach into governorate development. The feedback the ministry received from Their Highnesses, Excellencies, and Highnesses the Governors played a pivotal role in formulating the workshop’s pillars, which we will work on in the coming days,” he stated.

His Excellency further emphasised the importance of activating public-private sector partnerships, empowering local communities to effectively contribute to tourism development, and preserving and harnessing cultural heritage for the benefit of future generations.

The Undersecretary also emphasized the crucial role of activating public-private sector partnerships and empowering local communities to actively contribute to tourism development, alongside the preservation and utilization of cultural heritage for future generations.

The workshop agenda includes expert-led presentations and discussions on topics such as the role of governorates in heritage and tourism development (by Eng. Mohammed bin Saif Al Amri, Ministry of Interior), Ministry’s responsibilities and plans across governorates (by Khalid bin Abdullah Al Abri, Dhofar Governorate), governance and decentralization principles (by H.H. Dr. Adham Al Said), tourism governance models and sustainability (by Dr. Hamad Al Mahrazi, Oman Tourism College), and workshop framework and strategy pillars (by Ahmed bin Amer Al Sawai, Oman Vision 2040 Office).

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