Muscat: Tangible heritage is a vital tool for boosting the economy and stimulating investment, encompassing historical landmarks, buildings, and archaeological artifacts. It is also a key element of national and cultural identity, reflecting the antiquity and diversity of Omani civilization.

According to Oman News Agency, investment in tangible heritage ensures the sustainability of resources and contributes to economic development. The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, is making diligent efforts to revive cultural heritage sites, in alignment with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and the strategic programs of the 10th Development Plan.

In this context, Zayyana Mohammed Al Harrasi, Head of the Historical Sites Development and Rehabilitation Section at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, explained that the Ministry seeks to expand its efforts, enhance its patterns, and ensure their sustainability through investment, particularly in the management and operation of some historical and archaeological landmarks and sites. This is done to utilize cultural heritage by fostering a partnership with the private sector through diverse tourism experiences, providing direct and indirect job opportunities, empowering the private sector-including SMEs and productive families-and creating marketing outlets for artisans to enrich tourism with projects that have local value added for the community and an economic return.

She affirmed to Oman News Agency (ONA) that the Ministry aims to develop and provide diverse tourism destinations and experiences across the various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman. This contributes to diversifying the tourism product and maximizing the benefit from cultural heritage as destinations and tourist attractions in order to showcase Omani civilization and the ancient cultural heritage. This is coupled with maximizing the tourism, cultural, social, and economic benefit and reviving these landmarks to preserve and sustain them. Therefore, the Ministry has adopted the approach of entrusting these landmarks to private sector companies for management and operation, offering diverse new tourism experiences and products that attract tourists and leave them with a lasting, unforgettable memory. This also ensures the interaction of the local community surrounding the landmark to highlight and promote it, which strengthens the aspects of sustainability and the continuity of preserving all cultural inhe
ritances as competitive advantages.

Regarding programs and foundations concerned with supporting owners of heritage projects, she indicated that a specialized committee has been formed to oversee the rehabilitation and investment of historical landmarks, and 24 contracts have been signed for the management, operation, and utilization of a group of historical landmarks by the private sector. The institutions operating the heritage sites strive to develop and improve the tourism experiences associated with the site, which in turn enriches the visitor intellectually, recreationally, and culturally. This improvement contributes to enhancing the overall attractiveness of the tourism product and grants the operator an initial grace period of three years from the payment of imposed fees.

The Head of the Historical Sites Development and Rehabilitation Section at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism stated that the most prominent challenges facing heritage and archaeological sites are infringements, including urban sprawl due to development projects and the absence of awareness about the importance of preserving and conserving these sites. The issuance of title deeds for archaeological sites also poses a challenge, especially when there is overlap with other sites belonging to service entities or citizens alike.

She indicated that the institutions operating the historical and archaeological landmarks and sites contribute to enhancing the tourism product by focusing on activating all aspects related to the landmark, including its historical, architectural, and spatial dimensions, and showcasing them in the form of activities, events, and products that capture the tourist’s attention and enrich their artisanal and recreational side, creating tourism experiences that allow them to enjoy and benefit from the landmark.

She added that these operating institutions will also contribute to raising awareness among younger generations, making these landmarks diverse tourist destinations depending on the management and utilization. Furthermore, the revival of these sites through their operation is, in itself, a form of preservation against decay and neglect, ensuring their sustainability, maintenance, and protection.

She mentioned that historical landmarks play an effective role in stimulating tourism movement, diversifying the tourism product, and maximizing the benefit from cultural heritage and historical landmarks as tourist destinations and attractions, highlighting Omani civilization and the antiquity of cultural heritage, in addition to creating direct and indirect job opportunities. She pointed out that reviving tourism activity in the area surrounding the historical landmark contributes to increasing and diversifying tourist attractions, increasing the number of visitors to historical landmarks, and achieving added value.

She said that reviving tourism activity in the area surrounding the historical landmark leads to the enrichment of tourism through projects with local value added that benefit the local community, while adding value to the tourism map of the Sultanate of Oman, and providing direct and indirect job opportunities by empowering the private sector, including SMEs, involving productive families in the local community, creating marketing outlets for artisans, holding events and activities throughout the year, and improving the quality of services, goods, and the qualification of local community members and employees.

For his part, Abdul Rahman Saleh Al Abri, an entrepreneur in tourism tours and trips, stated that working in heritage tourism has a pivotal role in introducing the visitor to the cultural legacy and inherent heritage of the country, along with the details embodied in the old lifestyle and the significance that evaluates the development reached by the Omanis, which in turn enriches researchers and those interested in this field.

He added that the most prominent attractions for local and international tourists to heritage sites are the old architectural style that derived its details and materials from the surrounding environment, and their direct encounter with living history in the archaeological landmarks, alongside the experience of the traditional lifestyle that offers the tourist an integrated experience combining nature and culture.

In his turn, Yousef Zahran Al Dhahli, owner of the “Falaj Caf©” project, explained that the existence of such projects undertakes a significant role in preserving inherited values and transmitting them from one generation to another, as the connection of the modern generation to the ancient heritage strengthens the spirit of belonging and responsibility to preserve this legacy.

He said that the presence of tourism activity in such heritage facilities has encouraged the restoration of various structures such as heritage inns and museums, which generates good income for the owners or investors and requires local management, thus contributing to the employment of youth in this sector.