Latest news with #OmanBotanicGarden
Observer
19-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Ambassadors Forum to showcase strategic projects
MUSCAT, MAY 18 In cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Tender Board, Muscat Governorate will host the inaugural 'Governors' Ambassadors Forum' from May 20 to 22. The second and third days of the upcoming Governors' Ambassadors Forum will feature a comprehensive programme of field visits and workshops aimed at enhancing local governance and accelerating development efforts across Oman's governorates. On Wednesday, May 21, the delegates will embark on a series of site visits to major development initiatives within Muscat Governorate. The agenda will begin with a tour of the Sultan Haitham City in Al Khuwair, a major urban expansion project designed to meet Oman's future residential and infrastructure demands. The participants will also visit the Oman Botanic Garden in Al Ansab, a flagship conservation initiative that showcases the country's diverse plant life. The itinerary will continue with a stop at the Al Ansab–Jifnain dual carriageway project. Later in the afternoon, the group will tour the Green Walk in Al Maabela, an urban environmental initiative designed to integrate recreational spaces with sustainability goals. The day will conclude with dinner and visual presentations on development projects from across Oman. On Thursday, May 22, attention will turn back to Muscat Governorate Hall for a full day of technical sessions. The day will open with a presentation on the 'Etimad' Platform and the Unified Municipal System, both of which aim to improve service delivery and digital integration across Oman's governments. Subsequent workshops will address modern construction methods, evaluation guidelines for tenders and the management of variation orders in public projects. These sessions will equip regional leaders with practical tools for effective governance and project execution. The forum's second and third days are expected to offer an insightful blend of practical experience and policy knowledge, promoting best practices and fostering collaboration between Oman's governorates. The events will play a vital role in aligning local initiatives with the goals of Oman Vision 2040, supporting a more decentralised and effective model of national development.
Observer
10-05-2025
- Observer
Regeneration project enhances Masirah Island's ecological value
A new locally driven initiative is reimagining the future of Masirah Island by placing ecological regeneration at the centre of sustainable development. Positioned as one of Oman's most unique and underutilised tourism destinations, Masirah is now the focus of a pilot project exploring how natural capital can be restored while laying the groundwork for low-impact tourism opportunities aligned with Oman Vision 2040. The Masirah Beach Regeneration Project — funded by the British Omani Society — is a collaborative effort between local and national stakeholders, including the Wali's Office of Masirah, Environment Authority, Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, Oman Botanic Garden, Environment Society of Oman (ESO), Ocean Ecology Network and Future Seas. The project showcases how community collaboration and environmental leadership can shape a more resilient and inclusive future for coastal areas. Masirah Island is home to some of Oman's most biologically rich coastal ecosystems, with endemic plants, fringing coral reefs, migratory and resident bird populations, and four species of sea turtles — including the globally significant loggerhead turtle population. However, these natural assets face growing threats from unmanaged visitors' activities, urban lighting and beach driving, all of which put pressure on biodiversity and hinder the island's potential as a nature-based tourism destination. 'Masirah is a really special place for wildlife,' says Suaad al Harthy, Executive Director of ESO. 'But these are fragile ecosystems. Our research over the past 20 years has shown that nesting success is easily disrupted by light pollution, beach driving and unregulated tourism. The opportunity now is to reverse these impacts in a way that strengthens both the environment and the economy.' Introducing the concept of regenerative tourism to Oman, the project aims to demonstrate how development can work with nature rather than against it. Regenerative tourism goes beyond sustainability — emphasising restoration, local stewardship and shared value creation across communities, ecosystems and future generations. Nature-based solutions are a cornerstone of the pilot strategy. The team is assessing which beaches carry the highest ecological value and studying how native dune vegetation can stabilise sediment and shield turtle nesting zones from erosion and rising seas. 'We're conducting field studies to understand how local plant communities can be restored and expanded,' explains Dr Laila al Harthy of the Oman Botanic Garden. 'We're looking at propagation both on-site and at our facility in Muscat, and exploring how revegetation can complement the island's broader eco-tourism vision.' The pilot phase is focused on a critical nesting beach on Masirah's east coast. Early activities include a landscape assessment and conceptual design for low-impact infrastructure — such as shaded picnic areas, interpretive signage, dune walkways and basic visitor facilities — designed to integrate into the natural landscape and enhance visitor experience without compromising ecological integrity. 'We're looking at how other countries have successfully implemented nature-focused tourism,' says Andy Willson from Future Seas, who has supported conservation work on Masirah since 2008. Long-term community benefit and local leadership are essential pillars of the project. Stakeholders are engaging with community members throughout the process, envisioning a locally run model with beach rangers, eco-guides and conservation stewards all trained and employed from within the island. The initiative also highlights a need for investment to strengthen waste management, protect fragile dunes and mitigate threats like light pollution and vehicle erosion. At present, visible impacts from fishing debris, unmanaged tourism and development pressures continue to undermine both ecological health and visitor appeal. 'Much of the value of these beaches is being unnecessarily lost,' says Andy. 'But we know that high-value tourist destinations thrive when their environments are pristine and protected. Masirah has everything it needs to become one of them.' As the pilot progresses, the team aims to demonstrate a model that aligns conservation with tourism and community-led planning — not just for Masirah, but as an example for other sensitive coastal areas across Oman. Richard Stanford, Chairman of the British Oman Society, adds: "The Masirah Beach Regeneration Project is very important for improving the ecological condition of the island which will help to boost responsible environmental tourism and grow the economy. Encouraging collaboration between local communities, environmental experts and national stakeholders, this initiative not only safeguards Masirah Island's unique biodiversity, but also unlocks its potential as a model for regenerative tourism in Oman. The British Omani Society is proud to support such important environmental work as we seek to support Oman Vision 2040." Visitors are invited to support these efforts by respecting beach guidelines; avoid driving on beaches and vegetation, limit the use of torch and camp lights on beaches during the nesting season and leave no waste behind.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
01-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Oman eyes Indian tourists to boost sustainable tourism under Vision 2040
Oman is ramping up efforts to attract international tourists, including Indians, to meet its goal of approximately 11.7 million visitors annually by 2040 as part of its sustainable tourism strategy, a top Omani official said here. Highlighting the deep historical ties between Oman and India, Mohamed bin Mahmoud al Zadjali, adviser to the Minister of Heritage and Tourism for Engineering Affairs, noted that Indian tourists are a key visitor group. The collaboration between Oman and India is historically significant. We rely heavily on Indian tourists, who are among our primary visitor groups consistently exploring various locations in Oman, Zadjali told PTI Videos. Oman is promoting corporate travel and destination weddings, targeting the 'Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions' (MICE) sector to build a loyal client base in India. The sultanate welcomed around 6,00,000 Indian tourists in 2023 about 15 per cent of total tourists that year reinforcing India's role as a vital market. The sultanate welcomed 4 million tourists in 2023, a 38 per cent increase from the previous year, with Indian visitors playing a pivotal role. Collaboration with local communities has been central to our efforts since the 1970s, preserving castles, traditional markets, and cultural landscapes while fostering sustainable economic growth, Zadjali said. Oman's tourism strategy aligns with Oman Vision 2040, which targets 11.7 million international tourists annually by 2040. The ministry is banking on India's growing outbound tourism market to meet its 2030 goal of 6 million tourists, which includes a significant share of international visitors. Zadjali also highlighted Oman's unique approach to sustainable tourism, exemplified by the Oman Botanic Garden, a flagship project under the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism. Our vision is to preserve Oman's rare and endangered plant species, with 1,457 plants collected, including 100 species unique to Oman, he said. The garden, initiated in 2006 under the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said's directives and supported by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, is the only botanical facility globally dedicated exclusively to local habitats.
