Operationalisation of Qurm nature reserve, Geo Heritage tourism development and development of Al Saleel Natural Reserve master plan will see progress this year, ISFU report says.

On the operationalisation of Qurm Nature Reserve, the report says that ASAAS will carry out the feasibility and environmental studies on the reserve in order to come up with the best activities that generate revenue for the company and will additionally preserve the reserve’s conservational values and habitats.

As this project is the first of its kind in Oman, some challenges were faced, including unfamiliarity with procedures, legal frameworks and existing regulations.

These, and other challenges, such as streamlining the processes and approvals, were tackled with the support of ISFU by working with MoT for facilitation and steering decisions.

ISFU was instrumental in the process of separating Qurm Nature Reserve from Qurm Nature Park.

Meanwhile, on Geo Heritage Tourism Development, the report says the Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm (SEZAD) and the Office for Conservation of Environment (OCE) will work closely and a permit system will be explored whilst looking for potential investors.

In 2018, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) and Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) was signed, with the intent of sharing knowledge to develop Al Huqf Geopark as a themed tourism project, whilst securing the legislative conservation of the nature sites within the park.

Permit to Enter systems, in the form of online forms and guidelines, for the Duqm Rock Gardens and Arabian Wildlife Reserve, were put in place to enable entry for environmentally responsible visitors to the geological, natural and architectural sites.

The feasibility study framework was also prepared with the aim of evaluating the potential of untapped opportunities within the area specifically, and for the Sultanate of Oman in general.

Some challenges were faced while progressing with this initiative, including delays in obtaining a response from some entities and the need to streamline processes and approvals. These challenges were overcome with the support of ISFU and liaising with MoT for support and direction.

The feasibility study will be finalised in order to plan the development of one selected geosite as a geopark,” the ISFU report added.

On the Al Saleel Natural Reserve, the ISFU report says that a detailed master plan that will include investment packages and improvements to some existing facilities will be carried out.

Given the remote nature of the site, the steering committee has directed the project master planning to Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN) alongside the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA). OMRAN will deliver further enhancements to the site and stimulate interest in private investment to help boost the site’s economic impact.

This will be done not only through operating the protected area, but by creating an eco-friendly destination and maximising the area’s full potential. Development of Al Saleel will provide a unique experience for visitors interested in eco-tourism activities such as safaris, bird watching, the iconic Acacia Tortilis tree, camping and recreational vehicle (RV) parks.

With further insights into the business plan, combined with the technical expertise of the ministry and the commercial experiences of public and private companies, ISFU enabled the election of a steering committee. OMRAN has worked on the brief master plan which was submitted to, and approved by, MECA in preparation for the detailed master plan and investment packages.