MUSCAT : Driven by its commitment to strengthening the tourism entrepreneurship ecosystem and empowering national talent, Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group) concluded the first edition of the ‘Hikayat Balad’ Accelerator Programme. The programme aims to transform promising ideas into viable business ventures capable of enriching the tourism sector with diverse products and services.

The ceremony was held under the patronage of His Excellency Azzan bin Qasim Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism, and Chairman of OMRAN Group. The event featured presentations by the participating startups, showcasing their innovative projects and solutions to an audience of investors, partners, and entrepreneurs.

Delivered in strategic partnership with Al Jabr, the accelerator built on the outcomes of the ‘Hikayat Balad’ Hackathon held in 2024. It sought to support entrepreneurs and enable startups to develop their projects and unlock growth opportunities through an integrated programme comprising specialized mentorship, entrepreneurial training, and direct networking with investors and industry partners.

Over the past months, the accelerator received 29 applications from Omani entrepreneurs, from which 7 startups were selected, representing the TravelTech, Tourism Marketplaces, AgriTech, and PropTech sectors. The cohort progressed through a comprehensive path encompassing ideation, acceleration, and intensive guidance. Demonstrating the commercial viability of these ventures, three participating startups successfully secured initial funding during the programme.

Eng. Ayad bin Ali Al Balushi, CEO of OMRAN Group, stated: “The accelerator embodies OMRAN Group’s endeavors to create a supportive environment for innovation, empowering Omani entrepreneurs to deliver practical solutions that elevate tourism experiences. We believe these emerging ventures possess genuine potential to unlock new developmental horizons aligned with our corporate aspirations and the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.”

Mohammed Salim Al Wahibi, CEO of Al Jabr, added: “Our collaboration with OMRAN Group exemplifies the importance of integration in transforming promising ideas into successful commercial projects. We have worked closely with the startups to develop their business models and elevate their commercial readiness. What we witness today is the fruit of diligent work that reflects the capability of these projects to meet market demands.”

Mohammed Al Maashani, Founder of ‘MyTicket’, highlighted the value proposition of his project, stating: “Our project focuses on delivering an innovative and integrated digital platform for discovering and booking tourism and sports events and experiences, ensuring a seamless exploration journey for tourists across local destinations. The accelerator substantially contributed to developing our business model to be more scalable and responsive to the digital demands of the tourism sector, enhancing our readiness to launch our services and expand our market presence.”

Omar Al Rawahi, Founder of “Junaina”, said: “Through our innovative platform, we aim to offer unique agritourism experiences that enable visitors to explore the beauty and rich agricultural heritage of Oman’s diverse landscapes. We also seek to introduce a wide range of experiences that evolve across different seasons throughout the year. The programme provided us with a valuable opportunity to work closely with industry experts, enabling us to develop a sustainable tourism product that contributes to diversifying local tourism offerings and strengthening in-country value.”

The success of this programme serves as a driver for delivering future initiatives centered on investing in local talent and transforming ambitious ideas into tangible economic contributors that enrich and diversify tourism products in the Sultanate of Oman.