The 2007 print edition of Oman’s most popular tourism publication
DestinationOman was formally released by the Minister of Tourism,
Dr. Rajiha Abdulameer Ali yesterday. Reflective of the growing tourism
potential of the country, the new edition packs in 144 pages of content
and is illustrated with captivating pictures of the Sultanate of Oman,
mostly taken by celebrated photographer and His Majesty’s adviser
for Economic Planning Affairs HE Mohammad bin Al Zubair.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said, “The tourism
potential of the Sultanate has been imaginatively encapsulated through
the pages of DestinationOman and I can confidently say that anybody
who reads the book would be impelled to visit our country and explore
its charms at the very first opportunity.”
Dr. Rajiha added the government of Oman and the Ministry of Tourism
in particular, is making serious efforts to further enhance the
tourism potential of the Sultanate by creating world class infrastructure
and amenities, at all tourist destinations.
“There are a considerable number of promising tourism areas
in the Sultanate
and accordingly the Seventh Five-Year Development Plan includes
a number of tourism projects that will be implemented by both the
government and the
private sector. The most important of these projects include resorts
and tourist facilities in Yiti and Seifa in Muscat, Salalah, Mirbat
and Shaa in Dhofar, Ras Al Hadd in Ash Sharqiyah, Ziqi and Haraf
in Musandam and Shinas in Al Batinah.
The proposed high-speed ferry service scheduled for launch in late
2007 or early 2008 will cut down travel time between Musandam and
Muscat from five hours to just one hour. The service is also expected
to usher in a windfall of business opportunities for the country's
interior regions, boost tourism and generate employment”,
she continued.
“The mega real estate and tourism investment projects like
the Blue City, The Wave, the Muscat Golf Club; the new star hotels
coming up; the renovation and addition of rooms and upgrading of
facilities of existing hotels; are all efforts being made to accommodate
the growing number of tourists visiting our country now”,
she further underscored.
Dr. Rajiha commended the team of DestinationOman for keeping the
flag of the Sultanate flying high. The book which stemmed out from
the immense popularity enjoyed by the website www.DestinationOman.com
founded by an long time Indian resident and lover of Oman - Deepak
Nair, is designed by InteracOman and published by Al Roya.
|
