On behalf of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister of Oman, Sayyid Fahd bin HH Mahmoud Al Said, received the Open Letter from UNWTO and the World Travel and tourism Council (WTTC) Travel and Tourism [Muscat (Oman), 10 November 2014].
The Government of Oman is aware of the important contribution of tourism to job creation, to heritage conservation and community development, as well as its capacity to promote intercultural understanding and dialogue between peoples and nations. This was emphasized Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud SA Al Said when he received on behalf of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the Open Letter from the Secretary General of UNWTO, Taleb Rifai.
Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud SA Al Said expressed direct support to the tourism sector by the government at the highest level, given the positive effects of tourism in social, cultural and investment. This is particularly significant given the Omani draft tourism strategy for 2015-2045, including domestic tourism is one of the fundamental pillars.
The meeting explored the possibilities of going further in cooperation with UNWTO, especially regarding capacity building of individuals and organizations in the Omani tourism sector and support needed to establish the presence of Oman on the international stage of tourism.
Stressing that the country's wealth of perspectives heritage and archeology was a major tourist attraction, the Secretary General of UNWTO, Taleb Rifai, praised "the leading role of Oman and the determination of UNWTO to strengthen its cooperation with the Sultanate in order to further develop its promising tourism potential. "
The President of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), David Scowsill, said for his part: "The Omani economy perspectives travel and tourism, appears to have a brighter future in the short and long term ".
Oman International tourist arrivals totaled 1.6 million in 2013 and accounted for $ 1.2 billion in export earnings. Official sources in the first half of 2014, tourist arrivals increased by 12% compared to the same period in 2013. The travel and tourism contribute directly to Oman GDP by 3%, according to the 2014 WTTC report on the economic impact dedicated to Oman. Direct contribution is expected to increase by 10.2% in 2014, which would be the third largest increase of the 184 countries for which the WTTC provides figures.
On the occasion of his visit to Oman, Mr. Rifai also met with HE Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mehrezi, Minister of Tourism, SA Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture, HE Abdullah Nasser bin Abdullah Al Bakri Minister of Labour, HE Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Planning, and Dr. Ali Qassim, research at the Court.
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