Wednesday 19 / March / 2025
Muscat: The Shura Council is set to host Salem Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism on March 24 for statement before the Council.
This comes as part of the series of ministerial statements approved for the second regular session of the tenth term.
This was announced by Ahmed Mohammed Al Nadabi, Secretary-General of the Shura Council, who stated that the Council will convene its eighth regular session for the second annual term (2024-2025) of the tenth legislative period (2023-2027).
The session will be dedicated to discussing the statement of the Minister of Heritage and Tourism, in accordance with Article (69) of the Oman Council Law, which stipulates that: “At the beginning of each annual session, the Shura Council determines the program of ministerial statements and their discussion themes, based on a joint proposal from the Council’s Bureau and the heads of the standing committees. The Chairman of the Council shall inform the government of this program, specifying the elements and themes that each statement must include, according to the subject or sector it pertains to.”
The Secretary-General explained that the statement will cover six main themes identified by the Council earlier.
The first theme will examine the ministry’s plans and programmes implemented in the heritage and tourism sectors, their alignment with Oman Vision 2040 priorities, and the development plan projects for these sectors.
It will also present the ministry’s vision for integrating future programs and projects to enhance the heritage and tourism sectors within the Eleventh Five-Year Plan.
The second theme of the ministerial statement will analyse the tourism balance within the current five-year plan and the projections for the upcoming plan.
Contribution to GDP
This includes assessing tourism expenditures across various aspects, evaluating the impact of domestic tourism on the overall sector’s contribution to GDP, and examining spending patterns and growth prospects.
Additionally, it will assess the status of integrated tourism complexes, their investment value, job creation potential, and interconnections with other economic sectors.
The third theme will focus on managing the heritage sector, addressing the administration of tangible Omani cultural heritage (both public and private) and the ministry’s efforts to ensure its sustainability.
It will also discuss the management of historical and archaeological sites, including documentation, preservation, and maintenance. Furthermore, the theme will examine the contribution of the heritage sector to GDP, its future growth, and the ministry’s vision for developing the sector in light of existing opportunities, challenges, investment prospects, and optimal employment mechanisms.
According to Al Nadabi, the fourth theme will explore the management of the tourism sector, emphasising its contribution to GDP and highlighting key tourism projects aimed at maximising the sector’s economic impact. Additionally, it will address the role of tourism-related legislation in enhancing the economic returns from the sector.
The fifth theme will focus on human resources in the heritage and tourism sectors. It will discuss the ministry’s efforts to assess the supply and demand for national labour, improve Omanisation rates, and enhance workforce development.
Moreover, it will examine workforce training programs and initiatives to create job opportunities in the two sectors.
His Excellency the Secretary-General further stated that the sixth theme will cover coordination, development, and investment prospects. It will review the ministry’s collaboration with the Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) in advancing the tourism sector, as well as its role in enabling the private sector to invest in heritage and tourism sites.
Additionally, it will highlight the ministry’s initiatives to strengthen partnerships with SMEs and its policies and programs for maximising local content in coordination with various stakeholders.
He also noted that the session will be held publicly, with media representatives in attendance, to ensure transparency and promote community engagement.
