MUSCAT: The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism reviewed the details of the comprehensive plan for developing the tourism sector in the Sultanate.

The plan includes establishing a system of governance and updating the legal framework through reviewing and updating the tourism law and its executive regulations. 

The ministry also reviewed and updated the cultural heritage law by issuing an executive regulation for the law and also reviewed and updated the frameworks related to integrated tourism complexes, usufruct contracts and development agreements with consideration of granting Incentives and facilities for investment projects. 

His Excellency Salem bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, said that the plan proceeds from several axes and combines the Omani tourism strategy, economic diversification projects and programs and a number of initiatives that have been modified or added in line with current developments and in line with Oman’s future vision 2040.

His Excellency, during the media meeting held at Oasis Club, said that the plan aims to achieve quick gains in the sector through priority projects that the tourism market currently needs. This will aid in the continuation of the tourism sector’s recovery plan from the pandemic and support projects which have been affected by the consequences of the pandemic.

The minister also explained that the ministry is studying the establishment of the Tourism Development Fund, which can play an important role in supporting the financing of tourism projects. This will also assure that work continues in tourism promotion programs and promote the growth of the sector in integration with a number of national programs.

He pointed out that the plan focuses on achieving a qualitative leap in planning, development and investment by improving this system, developing tourism land management, developing a geographical database, and creating an electronic planning system that includes a platform for tourism land management, a platform for investors, and a monitoring and follow-up platform.

His Excellency stressed that the plan places priority on tourism development plans in the governorates, and implements the outputs of these plans in the governorates of Muscat, Al Dakhiliyah, South Al Sharqiah, Dhofar and Musandam while completing the preparation of plans in the rest of the governorates.

The plan is targeted to attract investments of about OMR 3 billion for the period from 2021 to 2023, within the national program to attract investments, noting that confirmed and planned investments of OMR 1.7 billion have already been attracted.

His Excellency said that there are 21 integrated tourism complex projects, of which 11 are on government-owned lands, and there are five development agreements already signed for these complexes and eight usufruct contracts. There are 10 projects on private lands, two of which are in the process of procedures, and four development agreements have been signed.

His Excellency explained that the comprehensive development plan for the heritage and tourism sector includes 194 major and sub-projects, and seven main axes. These include governance, management, capacity building, planning, development and investment, quality, sustainability and competitiveness, local added value, tourism products and experiences, the labour market, support for local products, and tourism promotion. 

The seventh axis focuses on the main challenges and proposed solutions through coordination and integration between the ministry and the concerned authorities. These challenges include those related to investment procedures and related to investment projects and financing challenges, and challenges related to integrated tourism complex projects, domestic tourism, entry procedures and access to the Sultanate of Oman.