MUSCAT : His Excellency Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi has completed his tenure as Oman’s Minister of Heritage and Tourism after more than five years in office, following a cabinet reshuffle issued by royal decree on Monday.

“Every journey has its end, and the most beautiful of endings are those crowned with achievements and good impact,” Al Mahrouqi said in a statement posted on X after stepping down, thanking employees and stakeholders across the heritage and tourism sectors for their support and efforts.

Appointed in August 2020, Al Mahrouqi led the ministry through a period marked by unprecedented disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely hit global travel and tourism, before overseeing a gradual recovery as borders reopened and visitor numbers rebounded.

In his farewell message, Al Mahrouqi expressed appreciation for civil servants, professionals and partners working in the heritage and tourism ecosystem, saying their collective commitment had helped deliver tangible outcomes despite complex challenges.

He also praised the team behind the Oman Botanic Garden project, noting that its completion — despite pandemic-related delays and the scale of the undertaking — stood as “a visible and possible testament to what has been achieved”.

Al Mahrouqi’s tenure spanned approximately five years and five months, during which tourism was positioned as a key pillar of Oman’s economic diversification strategy and a growing contributor to non-oil growth and employment.

He concluded his message by wishing continued success to those carrying the work forward, calling for perseverance and dedication in serving the public interest.

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