The man in charge of Omran’s US $10 billion project portfolio, Wael Al Lawati, tells Louise Oakley why continued tourism development and investment will be crucial to keep Oman on the destination radar in light of recent political events in the country.
February’s protests in Oman, which sought political reforms and better pay, have been described as a rare sign of discontent in the normally sleepy sultanate. (Reuters).
The protests were largely peaceful, with violence on February 27 brief but immediately effectual. Hours after demonstrators set cars and buildings ablaze in Sohar, Oman’s ruler, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, gave an order to create 50,000 jobs for citizens in the Gulf Arab state of 2.7 million people, 70% of whom are nationals.
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The country has certainly experienced less unrest — and more resolution — than some of its neighbours, but still, as the Middle East now faces a potential slump in tourism, the government, developers and operators alike are keen to tell the trade that “it is business as usual”.
According to Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) CEO Wael Al Lawati — who is responsible for leading the development some of Oman’s most high profile tourism projects worth US 10 billion in total — the hospitality and travel business must work together to promote the destination.
“Oman has experienced unrest but all parties are keen to report that the protests here are of a different nature than elsewhere, and this includes full support for His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and adherence to peaceful behaviour so that economy is not adversely affected,” says Al Lawati.
“The same sentiment holds for tourism — the last thing anyone wants to see is Oman going off the tourism radar,” he says.
“In this regard, Oman’s Ministry of Tourism has led from day one with news releases to the industry, travel and tourism trade that it is business as usual. Here in Oman, the Ministry is appealing to the travel and tourism trade to consider promoting and selling Oman as a destination, as this needs to happen ahead of any tactical consumer campaigns,” says Al Lawati.
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