'Affordable public transport key to boosting domestic tourism in Oman'

Muscat: Majlis Al Shura members held detailed discussions on tourism jobs in the private sector as the Majlis continued yesterday its 11th session of its 1st annual sitting 2015/2016 of its 8th term 2015/2019 under the chair of Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma’awali, Chairman of Majlis Al Shura.
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The session continued discussing the statement of Ahmed bin Nasser Al Meherzi, Minister of Tourism as members of Majlis Al Shura have many inquiries on the themes covered by the statement.
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The members highlighted issues related to tourism development and planning, Oman Tourism Strategy 2040, assessment of the sector’s growth rate, its contribution to the GDP and the proposed projects during the 9th five-year plan. They also stressed the need of this sector to enhance the growth of the national economy.
The members had broad discussions on the tourism projects carried out by the Ministry of Tourism at the different wilayats and the services provided there.
The members proposed to survey the citizens’ need for tourism services in their wilayats and submit the outcomes of such survey to the higher authorities in Oman.
They pointed out that the tourism potentials in the Sultanate are not properly utilised. As for developing domestic tourism, the Minister of Tourism said that providing public transport service at affordable fares is essential to promote this kind of tourism.
The members had detailed discussions on the available job opportunities with the private sector in the tourism field, the number of jobs occupied by Omanis and the Omanization rate at the senior positions.