The visiting delegation included Sheikh Qais Al Hosni, head of CEO’s office; Mohammed Al Eissa, corporate communications manager; Salah Al Ghazali, chief investment officer and Zoltan Kali, chief strategy officer.
Omran, the Sultanate’s master developer for tourism and urban communities has opened a new regional office in Salalah.
The office, which was opened by Omran’s executive management team including Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chairman H.E. Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidi and CEO James Wilson, will help oversee Omran’s growing portfolio of investments and tourism offerings in Salalah.
The Khareef (Monsoon) season continues to attract a growing number of travelers and visitors to Salalah, and given its year-round tourism offering, Oman aims to further drive tourism development and investment in Dhofar.
While visiting the new office, the delegation analysed the prospect of a new Integrated Tourism Complex (ITC) which would increase the company’s growing portfolio of tourism investments in Salalah.
The ITC would include branded residential units as well as additional four- and five-star hotels and resorts.
Speaking during the regional office visit at Omran’s Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah, chairman of Omran Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidi said: “The development of local, regional and international tourism is an increasingly important for Oman’s economic diversification.
“As the Sultanate’s leading master planner and developer, Omran is committed to driving forward the tourism sector in a strategic and focused way, especially in areas of exceptional beauty such as Salalah.”
He added: “One of the ways we’re achieving our objective is through the forging of strategic partnerships with both local and international investors. The success of these partnerships will act as a catalyst for further investments across the Sultanate.”
Omran chief investment officer, Salah Al Ghazali, said: “[This] will help facilitate the initiation of new projects and joint ventures (JV) that will further enhance the local tourism infrastructure, which will be key in generating local employment opportunities, across Salalah and the surrounding area,” he added.
“A stunning year-round destination, with a favourable climate and spectacular landscape, Salalah has enormous potential to be a leading domestic, regional and international visitor destination. Omran is helping to cater for these visitors by investing in new amenities and resorts,” Al Ghazali concluded.
As part of the tour Omran’s management team also inspected the progress of the new Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara, Omran’s JV with local private hospitality developer Mohammed Barwani Holding Company, which is preparing for its official opening later this year. The luxury property is the first Anantara resort to open in Oman and is set to be an important addition to the tourism offering in Salalah. Developed next to the Al Baleed UNESCO World Heritage site and frankincense museum, the new resort will offer guests high levels of luxury and a superior cultural experience.
The extensively landscaped resort features 106 one, two, and three bedroom chalets, most with their own courtyard swimming pools. The main hotel building houses 30 guest rooms, a range of recreation facilities, a health and wellness spa, boutique retail, high quality food and beverage outlets including themed restaurants and function areas.
The 50% public-private partnership (PPP) behind the new Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara is an example of one key approaches that Omran is taking to develop the tourism infrastructure across Oman.
One of Omran’s other JVs in the Dhofar region to be supported by the new office is Salalah Beach.
The destination is a partnership with Muriya, and presents modern amenities blended with traditional Omani charm.
The family-focused integrated tourism resort includes three hotels; the Juweira boutique hotel with 82 rooms which opened in 2012, the 400 room Rotana Salalah and the Al Fanar Hotel & Residences Salalah which opened in December 2015 with 218 rooms.
Both Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah and Salalah Beach Resort have also been recently transferred as two additional properties in Omran’s Dhofar portfolio.
| Advertisement |
Search our database of more than 2,700 industry companies
