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Muscat Daily
03-08-2025
- Muscat Daily
Dhofar's museums, heritage sites drive cultural tourism in khareef
Salalah – As Oman's southern governorate welcomes thousands of visitors during the khareef season, museums and archaeological sites in Dhofar are playing a central role in promoting cultural tourism, offering experiences that highlight the region's historical depth and national identity. Officials and stakeholders in the heritage and tourism sectors say that cultural tourism has become a key element of Dhofar's appeal, particularly during the monsoon period when interest in Omani history grows among domestic and international travellers. Ali bin Salem al Kathiri, Director of the Frankincense Land Sites Department at the Directorate General of Heritage and Tourism in Dhofar, said the archaeological cities of Samharam and Al Baleed are prominent heritage destinations. 'These cities represent a unique model of ancient port settlements that flourished along the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula and were vital to the maritime frankincense trade,' he said. He noted that both sites have been listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 2000 and reflect the succession of civilisations that shaped the cultural landscape of southern Oman. During last year's khareef, over 54,000 visitors toured the Land of Frankincense sites and the Museum of the Land of Frankincense. The number is expected to rise this season due to continued promotional efforts by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and its partners. To enhance visitor engagement, authorities are employing interactive educational displays, guided tours, and workshops. 'Visitor experience is evaluated through regular surveys and research, as well as feedback via the national Tajawub platform,' al Kathiri said. In the wilayat of Taqah, heritage investments are also gaining ground. Mohammed bin Ahmed Sawakhroon, supervisor of Al Askar Tower and Taqah Fort sites, said the sites have been developed into heritage tourism destinations. 'The tower now includes a restaurant, heritage café, and recreational facilities, surrounded by agricultural terraces. There are plans to connect it with Taqah Fort via a tourist route,' he said. He noted that the project has received support from the Dhofar Governor's Office, Dhofar Municipality, and the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development, which also facilitated the inclusion of a crafts village during Khareef 2023. The newly opened Dhofar Museum in Salalah's old quarter is also attracting growing attention. Opened in July 2025, the museum houses more than 1,000 artefacts collected since the 1950s and is designed to narrate the story of the Omani people and their environment. Harith bin Mohammed al Ghassani, a member of the museum's board, said, 'The museum offers a cognitive experience that brings together historical understanding and cultural continuity.' In Taqah, the Museum of Communication of Generations has become the first private museum licensed in Dhofar. Its founder, Salem bin Ahmed al Amri, said the museum was inspired by his late mother's wish to preserve Omani heritage. Opened in 2023, it showcases local crafts, trade artefacts, and family history across four halls and an outdoor courtyard. For many visitors, the cultural experiences are a highlight of their khareef trips. Faiza bint Suwailem al Kalbani, a visitor from Muscat, said her professional visits during the monsoon season often include heritage stops. 'This time I toured the Museum of the Land of Frankincense, Al Baleed, Samharam, and coastal heritage sites. It added a cultural dimension to my work trip,' she said. Nasser bin Saif al Maamari, who visited Taqah Fort and Al Askar Tower, praised the preservation efforts and historical architecture. 'It reflects a strong commitment to protecting heritage,' he said. Kuwaiti tourist Abdul Hamid Mohammed al Khalidi described the Museum of the Land of Frankincense as an enriching stop. 'The exhibits highlight the region's historical role in the frankincense trade. The cultural and archaeological activity during khareef is clearly increasing, particularly among Gulf visitors,' he said.
Zawya
22-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: Tourism ministry steps up efforts ahead of Dhofar khareef
Salalah – Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) has begun reviewing readiness of hotels and tourism establishments in Dhofar ahead of the 2025 khareef season with the aim of improving service quality and ensuring compliance with updated regulations. The efforts include inspections and consultations with licensed establishments across the governorate. An introductory workshop was held at Al Baleed Archaeological Park in Salalah on Monday, where tourism operators were briefed on the ministry's expectations and support tools for the upcoming season. Key areas of focus included hotel service standards, complaint resolution mechanisms and promotional strategies tailored to the monsoon season. Participants were introduced to the 'Tajawub' platform, a digital system designed to manage visitor complaints and respond to tourism-related enquiries. Khalid bin Abdullah al Abri, Director General of Heritage and Tourism in Dhofar, said the workshop was part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to uphold service standards. 'We currently have 80 licensed hospitality establishments in the governorate and expect this number to reach 120 by the end of 2025,' he said. Abri also outlined MHT's promotional strategy for the season developed in coordination with tourism offices, airlines and car rental companies. The plan includes packages designed to attract a wide range of visitors to Dhofar. The khareef season, which runs from June 21 to September 21, continues to grow in popularity. More than 1mn tourists visited Dhofar during the 2024 season, up from 962,000 in 2023, confirming its status as a key event in Oman's tourism calendar.
Muscat Daily
21-04-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Tourism ministry steps up efforts ahead of Dhofar khareef
Salalah – Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) has begun reviewing readiness of hotels and tourism establishments in Dhofar ahead of the 2025 khareef season with the aim of improving service quality and ensuring compliance with updated regulations. The efforts include inspections and consultations with licensed establishments across the governorate. An introductory workshop was held at Al Baleed Archaeological Park in Salalah on Monday, where tourism operators were briefed on the ministry's expectations and support tools for the upcoming season. Key areas of focus included hotel service standards, complaint resolution mechanisms and promotional strategies tailored to the monsoon season. Participants were introduced to the 'Tajawub' platform, a digital system designed to manage visitor complaints and respond to tourism-related enquiries. Khalid bin Abdullah al Abri, Director General of Heritage and Tourism in Dhofar, said the workshop was part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to uphold service standards. 'We currently have 80 licensed hospitality establishments in the governorate and expect this number to reach 120 by the end of 2025,' he said. Abri also outlined MHT's promotional strategy for the season developed in coordination with tourism offices, airlines and car rental companies. The plan includes packages designed to attract a wide range of visitors to Dhofar. The khareef season, which runs from June 21 to September 21, continues to grow in popularity. More than 1mn tourists visited Dhofar during the 2024 season, up from 962,000 in 2023, confirming its status as a key event in Oman's tourism calendar.
Zawya
12-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: Digital transformation for sustainable development
Muscat: With the continued implementation of sectoral strategies and national transformation programmes aimed at accelerating the goals of the Oman Vision 2040, the Sultanate of Oman has made significant improvements in its position in various international indicators related to innovation and digital transformation in recent times. Oman has made great strides in simplifying government procedures and integrating advanced technology into its services through electronic platforms. The government has paved the way for comprehensive digital transformation by implementing the government digital transformation programme and accompanying initiatives that enhance the facilitation and simplification of services for beneficiaries and investment procedures across different sectors. The Tajawub platform, an electronic platform dedicated to receiving complaints and suggestions in government institutions, has been developed to align with government efforts towards digital transformation. It has adopted work methodologies and tools enhanced by artificial intelligence, linking to government service agencies. It serves as an enabler to help agencies respond to beneficiary requirements following unified methodologies governed by controls and standards. Hilal bin Abdullah al Hinai, Director-General of the Quality and Government Excellence Department at the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, mentioned that the platform aims to improve services provided by government institutions, enhance beneficiary satisfaction and achieve the vision's priorities, especially in governance of the state's administrative apparatus, resources and projects. The platform plays a crucial role in enhancing participation and enabling individuals, citizens, residents and private sector institutions to contribute effectively to developing government services by submitting reports, complaints and suggestions. It will facilitate individuals expressing their opinions easily, enhancing government response efficiency by simplifying complaint follow-up procedures continuously. Having an electronic platform allows citizens and beneficiaries to express their opinions and suggestions, and submit complaints to improve and develop government work while providing a national experience based on transparency. This will undoubtedly have a significant impact in the future on enhancing services and products provided by various government institutions to citizens through services that align with aspirations. Digital transformations and modern technological developments are essential pillars for achieving sustainable development and enhancing the digital economy in Oman within the framework of the Oman Vision 2040 objectives. The vision aims to elevate Oman's ranking to be among the top 20 countries globally in developing electronic services and improving its global ranking in e-government development and ease of doing business indicators. Achieving this would be a significant milestone in sustainable development efforts. Through digital transformation, Oman aims to promote participation and cooperation to build trust and achieve transparency among society, the business sector and the public sector. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Muscat Daily
26-02-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
3 digital platforms to boost govt services
Together We Progress Forum gives citizens a platform to voice their opinions and concerns Muscat – H H Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, inaugurated the 'Together We Progress Forum' on Wednesday, organised by Secretariat General of Council of Ministers. The two-day forum aims to enhance communication between the government and society, review development programmes, and give citizens a platform to voice their opinions and concerns. The event featured two discussion sessions on the first day focused on the economy and development, addressing the upcoming Five-Year Plan, economic diversification and the role of investments in the national economy. Five additional dialogue sessions will cover topics such as governorates' development; the future of professions; the retirement system; culture, sports and youth; and the future of economic diversification sectors. A key highlight of the forum on Wednesday was launch of three national digital platforms aimed at enhancing the quality of government services and improving accessibility. The Tajawub platform is for citizens to submit suggestions, complaints and reports to improve government services; the National System for Planning, Evaluation and Performance Follow-up integrates government agencies to streamline planning, evaluation and monitoring of national goals; and the Unified National Portal for Electronic Services provides access to all government digital services, reducing the need for in-person visits to government offices. Sheikh al Fadhl bin Mohammed al Harthy, Secretary General of Council of Ministers, confirmed that the forum topics were selected through broad community engagement, with over 19,000 citizens participating. Over 7,500 citizens registered online to attend the forum sessions. H E Saeed al Saqri, Minister of Economy, highlighted the impressive growth of the Omani economy, driven by non-oil sectors. He noted that the financial balance plan has bolstered confidence in Oman's investment climate, with foreign direct investments expected to reach RO26bn by the end of 2024. H E Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to maintaining production capacity in the oil and gas sectors, with operating costs between US$9-$10 per barrel. He also informed that 32% of electricity consumed in Oman is now sourced from renewable energy. H E Saeed bin Hamood al Mawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, stated that the digital economy currently contributes 2% to Oman's GDP, which is expected to increase to 10% by 2040. H E Dr Khalfan al Shuaili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, projected Sultan Haitham City would accommodate 500 Omani families by 2026-2027. Plans are also in place for a similar city in Dhofar covering 7mn sqm. Halima bint Rashid al Zaria, Chairperson of Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development, noted that SMEs contribute nearly RO9bn to the GDP.
