[Oman-l] Quality tourists

[BaaboodA@aol.com]

I am no specialist in tourism but would nevertheless care to venture my 
opinion to Sue Hutton's questions. My simple argument is that 'quality 
tourism' does not necessarily mean expensive tourism and luxury hotels. What 
Oman needs, at least in my opinion, is to develop its tourism industry in a 
way that has little social and environmental impact. But developing the 
tourism sector is a necessity and not a luxury for a country that needs to 
find other alternative income and employment for its high growing and young 
population. The question that always crops up is how to achieve this task 
while limiting the social and environmental costs? 'Quality tourism' is a 
good phrase/slogan but would need to be defined more precisely. The 
definition would help pave the way for how this important sector is to be 
developed and determine the process. Building five and four star hotels are 
in doubt needed but is not enough if there was no plan to attract that kind 
of tourists who could afford these expensive hotels. The plan should not only 
include building the infrastructure but would encompass all other facilities 
and services that this kind of tourists would want to see, find and do in the 
country. There is an apparent lack of depth and width of tourism supporting 
services in the Sultanate. For example there is no golf course in the 
country. The government wants the private sector to make the initiative and 
build a golf course but the private sector is reluctant due to the uncertain 
returns. The result is that Oman is probably one of the only GCC states that 
has not golf course. I stand to be corrected.  

Oman as a country has a lot to offer for many tourists but it's not cheap to 
travel to the Sultanate. The costs of air travel to Oman makes it almost 
prohibitive for the cheap and mass tourist sector, which the country is 
wisely and deliberately trying to avoid. Examples are abundant of the effect 
of such policy in many countries. But what about tourist who cannot afford 
those hotels but are good 'quality tourists'?  Specially interests groups, 
sports, academics, incentive travel and conference business groups could, in 
my opinion, be classified as 'quality tourists' but many cannot afford the 
costs of the air fares and the high quality expensive hotels. Moreover there 
are not many direct non-stop flights to Oman and there is only one 
international airport in this large country. This does not make it easy nor 
convenient if one ones to visit other parts of the country in a short break.

Dubai, no doubt, has a thriving tourism sector but not all of it is perhaps 
welcome in Oman. Oman does not need to copy others but would need to develop 
its own philosophy learning of course from the experience of others. However, 
where Dubai has made a mark is in the efficiency and quick decisions and 
policies to lead the way in many areas including developing its tourism 
industry. In contrast, Oman, the country that lends itself to be a regional 
leader in this sector, is still garbling with defining its objectives and 
working out its strategy. The effect of which many investors (local and 
foreign alike) are still hesitant in investing in this sector. Dubai has 
taken a lead in attracting some of this investment that could have arguably 
found its way to Oman. Dubai has also taken the lead in hosting many regional 
and international annual events that attract tourists and business. 

A beautiful, safe and stable country like Oman could do more in developing a 
successful tourism sector. However, it would need a clear vision, strategy 
and encouragement to achieve that. The government would have to play a much 
more active role in nourishing and guiding such objective. Some laudable 
steps have been taken by the government but the effect would remain small and 
incomplete if the sector itself is not viewed as a top priority for an 
overall government policy and action. Education and proper training in this 
sector (for public and private sectors) would go some way towards achieving 
this goal. Encouraging and training small operators and small companies in 
this industry would also broaden and widen the services and the associated 
benefits and would help local employment. Relaxation of visa requirement and 
other laws affecting tourism or investment in this sector would need to be 
reviewed and changed accordingly. Tourism, investment promotion and 
communication would need to be more coordianted with the overall objective. 
Differentiated incentives for eco-tourism projects. Airports should be 
developed to receive direct international flights in say Musandam and 
Salalah. 


Abdulla


In a message dated 20/09/00 16:49:35 GMT Daylight Time, 
Susan.Hutton@btinternet.com writes:

<< Subj:     [Oman-l] Quality tourists
 Date:  20/09/00 16:49:35 GMT Daylight Time
 From:  Susan.Hutton@btinternet.com
 Sender:    oman-l-admin@oman.org
 Reply-to:  <A HREF="mailto:oman-l@oman.org">oman-l@oman.org</A>
 To:    oman-l@oman.org
 
 I was very interested in the discussion of tourist 
 statistics, and was one of those who responded to 
 Ruud's recent enquiries about travel facilities in Oman.
 
 My understanding of official policy is that Oman is 
 seeking "quality tourists" and to that end, is expanding 
 the number of 4 * and 5 * hotel rooms to 
 accommodate them.
 
 Would anybody care to comment on what is meant by 
 a "quality tourist", or indeed in more detail how tourist 
 infrastructure in Dubai is more developed than in the 
 Sultanate.
 
 What would list members like to see in order to 
 enhance tourism in Oman?  A lot of us have actually 
 been lucky enough to live there and know what the 
 attractions are.  Would they be as attractive if there 
 were hordes of coach parties, and would hordes of coach 
 parties be likely to substantially increase tourist 
 revenue?
 
 With best regards
 
 Sue Hutton
 
 Susan.Hutton@btinternet.com
 sue_hutton@mail.com
 http://www.suonnoch.com
 Telephone: +44(0)1509650759
 Mobile: +44(0)7968745813
 Fax: +44(0)8701258086
 
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