Monday column: The harmony between Omanis and expatriates

The harmony between Omanis and expatriates is a key ingredient that makes Oman stand out compared with most countries of the world.

There is a reason for it. Centuries of integration with different cultures of the world from different continents is deeply instilled in the blood of all Omanis. It is the makeup of their self-esteem and behavior.

Most Omanis, with a few exception, tolerate the traditions of people living around them. It has to be and the statistics prove it. Almost half of the roughly five million people in Oman are expatriates and their families.

We go out with our business in the streets and everyone is complete at ease with each other. There is no behavioral segregation or even mental isolation out there. It is exactly the same in the business circles with no exceptions.

And this comes to the topic of tourism in Oman. Tourists ‘feel complete at home’, to quote one of them that I talked to this month, when they come to visit Oman. He and his family were getting “smiles” and even a “little bow” wherever they met people. Touring Oman was a complete harmony for them, to exactly quote what they said to me.

I know that the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is promoting Oman a lot. But perhaps it needs a little twist to get a bigger number into the country. Oman roughly gets about 3 million foreign tourists annually flying into the country in different seasons of the year.

We can definitely get a lot more. Apart from our natural instincts of integration with different cultures, Oman is an exceptional country. I know this has been said before but it has not really been promoted in the right perspective.

First, we should ask what makes Oman different from other nations of the world, apart from its people. Yes, we have beautiful areas scattered around the country, such as mountains, beaches, desert, historical towns and the rest.

But we all miss the multiculturalism. We already have festivals in different towns in Oman, such as in Salalah and Jabal Al Akhdhar. But we need more events in different parts of the country that promote different cultures of people who live in Oman.

These events can be in different parts Oman and in permanent fixtures. Why is this important? Because Oman hosts different nationalities of people who are working here. Also, we get different nationalities from tourism.

They would identify themselves in these events. Moreover, word will go out globally that Oman is promoting their cultures and that will attract more tourists. The media of the world will take notice and start covering these multiculturalism events on regular basis.

For those who would question this idea will need to look down at the history of the country. Oman, as a seafaring nation of the past, their people travelled in many nations when airplanes were not even invented.

They introduced their culture in those countries and left a deep imprint that is still evident now. Omanis also embraced different cultures when they settled in those countries. They even imported back home some of the multiculturalism.

So, it is time to celebrate the past and learn from it and use it to the advantage of attracting more tourists to Oman.