MUSCAT : The initiative is designed to equip national talent with the functional and practical skills required to meet rising demand in the tourism sector.

The agreement was signed by His Excellency Salem bin Muslim Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour for Human Resources Development; His Excellency Azzan bin Qasim Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism; and Hamoud bin Hamad Al Muzaydi from Ejada Development.

Under the cooperation program, the participating entities will:

• Study and identify available freelance opportunities in tourist guide services that can be filled by job seekers.
• Oversee the performance of beneficiaries to ensure the quality of assigned tasks and measure the program’s impact.
• Identify the skills and experience required for job seekers to qualify for freelance roles in the sector.
• Prepare periodic reports to assess the project’s effectiveness, highlight challenges, and propose areas for improvement.

Officials stated that the initiative aligns with national efforts to increase participation of Omani talent in private-sector roles, particularly within the tourism industry. The program also supports broader strategies to promote self-employment as a viable pathway for job seekers.

Alongside the signing ceremony, the Ministry of Labour announced the availability of new freelance opportunities within the foreign-language tour guiding programme. Applicants will be required to meet specific eligibility criteria, including Omani citizenship, recent job-seeker registration, and proficiency in German, French, or Italian. The training courses will be delivered by the Ejada Development, an institution accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

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