By Saif al Abri - MUSCAT — The Ministry of Tourism is taking firm steps in monitoring the pace of projects and analysing the causes of delay in their implementation as per the agreed schedule. The ministry said in a statement here that it is taking a decision to withdraw land from the investors who did not prove to be serious enough. The ministry’s view was expressed in response to a query by the Majlis Ash’shura on the reported delays.
In a reply sent to Dr Fuaad bin Jaafar Sajwani, Chairman of the Economic Committee at the Majlis Ash’shura, the ministry referred to major tourism projects that were impacted by the global financial crisis and the fact that their implementation delayed, saying that Shinas Tourism project was cancelled, while work was halted on Salam Yeti project. But, due to the importance of the latter project to the tourism sector, it was agreed with the government will go ahead with the implementation of Salam Yeti project, while at the same time preserving the investor’s rights to it.
Meanwhile, the administration of tourism in Al Dakhiliya region will today arrange a meeting on tourist facilities in Al Dakhiliya and Al Wusta regions under the auspices of Shaikh Saif Hamiar al Shihi, Wali of Nizwa. The meeting aims to develop tourism sector and promote investment projects in tourism to activate the sector by showing the historical excellence in the nature of Oman.

This can be accomplished by presenting the handicrafts and the Omani traditions and by exploiting the growing number of tourists throughout the year, and the geographical dimensions of the two regions. Mosa bin Isa al Riyami, Director of Tourism in Al Dakhiliya region, said “The meeting - which will be held at the Nizwa Golden Tulip Hotel - is an opportunity for investors in the tourism sector to identify the mechanisms involved in developing tourism sector, and making a broad base for the future of the sector, in addition to enforcing co-ordination between institutions involved in the tourism sector to obtain sustainable tourism."
He added that the meeting will focus on tourist facilities, hotels and guest houses by presenting its services and employment opportunities available to the youth. He explained the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism and its future goals in this context. The meeting also aims at discussing the aspects related to ways to simplify and facilitate investments through the optimisation of natural and cultural heritage.
A number of government institutions are participating in the meeting in addition to the participation of nearly 100 students representing the University of Nizwa, Nizwa College of Technology and College of Tourism to familiarise them with the role of the Ministry of Tourism in the development of tourism facilities and activities of the meeting.
An exhibition of tourism companies operating in the region and an expo of the most beautiful pictures of various tourist sites will be held on the sidelines of the meeting. Al Riyami said that three working papers will be submitted during the meeting, including a worksheet of the Directorate-General of Tourism which includes clarifying the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism to gain access to a sustainable tourism development, in order to find small and medium-sized investment opportunities to provide necessary tourist services for visitors and transients to other regions, in addition to providing job opportunities to the people of the two regions.
The second paper will be provided by one of the specialists from the Oman Development Bank to identify the mechanisms used to provide facilities, loans, exemptions, the procedures for funding for the tourism sector and the conditions for benefiting from bank facilities. The third paper to be submitted by the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry will clarify its role in promoting projects in and outside the Sultanate and investment opportunities in the tourism sector.