Monday 19 / May / 2025
Muscat: As part of its efforts to promote sustainable tourism in the Sultanate of Oman, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism supports initiatives launched by the public, private, and community sectors to achieve integrated environmental, economic, social, and tourism objectives.
The Ministry plays a pivotal role in encouraging tourism investment within nature reserves through its effective partnerships, particularly with the Environment Authority through the Nature Reserves Committee and the Nature Reserve Investment Projects Study Committee. These partnerships contribute to proposing tourism projects and products with an environmental identity, imbued with cultural content that aligns with the dimensions of sustainable development and enhances the tourism experience.
Dr. Saeed bin Khalfan Al Musharfi, Assistant Director General for Projects and Product Development and representative of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism on the Nature Reserve Investment Projects Study Committee, said that the committee is studying and evaluating investment opportunities in nature reserves from various perspectives, with a focus on the environmental and cultural characteristics and competitive advantages of each reserve.
Al Mashrafi added that the signing of nine investment projects in seven nature reserves to promote ecotourism with local community participation, with an investment volume exceeding OMR 44 million, with the Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) and several private sector institutions to develop, manage, and operate several investment projects in several reserves across the Sultanate of Oman's governorates, will contribute to the optimal utilization of the unique natural resources of these reserves, transforming them into sustainable ecotourism products that reflect the rich biodiversity while highlighting cultural content.
He explained that these projects will include a range of distinguished services, most notably the establishment of information centers aimed at providing educational content about the biodiversity of each reserve, guidance services for tourists, and spaces dedicated to displaying handicrafts and local products provided by productive families. This will also include eco-friendly hotel facilities that align with the environmental framework of each reserve, ensuring a comprehensive and sustainable tourism experience.
He emphasized that he is counting on these investment projects in nature reserves to provide exceptional experiences that enhance tourist interaction and connection with the surrounding natural and cultural environment through diverse activities that harmonize with the overall framework of the reserves. The tourist experience will not be limited to interacting with wildlife, but will extend to unique contemplative and astronomical activities, providing tourists with a unique, holistic experience that blends nature, science, and culture.
Al Mashrafi stated that these investment projects will complement the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism's initiatives to launch other tourism models and products based on the optimal use of natural and cultural elements, such as adventure tourism, wellness tourism, and others. This will position the Sultanate of Oman as a tourist destination that caters to the tastes of local and international tourists.
Al Mashrafi pointed out that one of the most important aspects of nature reserve development, operation, and management projects is ensuring effective local community participation. This is achieved by involving local community members in development, operation, and management programs, particularly by providing direct and indirect job opportunities for residents of neighboring areas. A number of private sector institutions, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, have signed agreements to manage, develop, and operate some reserves.
Dr. Saeed bin Khalfan Al Mashrafi emphasized that the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism's role in supporting investment projects in nature reserves is not limited to technical and organizational aspects, but extends to employing tourism products in nature reserves within tourism promotion programs that the Ministry and its partners are working to implement in various local, regional and international exhibitions and forums. This makes the Sultanate of Oman a leading destination in the field of environmental and scientific tourism, attracting researchers, academics and students, in addition to naturalists, astronomers and general visitors who are fans of sustainable tourism.
