The Media, Tourism and Culture Committee of the Majlis Al Shura hosted this morning (Tuesday) Dr. Hashil Obaid Al Mahrouqi, CEO of the Oman Tourism Development Company “Omran Group”, along with a number of specialists from the company. The session focused on discussing several motions submitted by members of the Council that fall within the committee’s remit, including the motion to evaluate Omanisation policies and programs in the tourism sector, the proposal to establish integrated service stations for mobile homes and tourism services, and the motion regarding the transformation of selected wilayats in the Sultanate of Oman into fully integrated tourism zones.

 

The meeting, chaired by H.E. Abdullah Hamad Al Harthy, head of the Committee, and in the presence of their Excellencies members of the committee., included a presentation by one of Omran’s experts outlining the company’s efforts in local workforce development. The presentation highlighted various Omanisation strategies and programs aimed at creating job opportunities and attracting national talent into the tourism industry. It also emphasized the company’s commitment to increasing localisation rates across its tourism projects, including integrated tourism complexes.
 

The presentation further showcased Omran Group’s initiatives in training and upskilling the national workforce, enabling career progression into supervisory and senior roles within the tourism sector. The role of the Group in ensuring job stability for Omani nationals employed in the sector was also addressed.
 

This session comes as part of the committee’s broader discussions on the motion regarding the evaluation of Omanisation strategies in the tourism industry. Discussions also covered the importance of drawing on successful international experiences in tourism localisation and how these practices might be adapted locally. The session examined avenues of collaboration between Omran and relevant government entities to effectively implement Omanisation policies in the tourism sector, while also exploring key challenges and potential solutions to enhance localisation rates.

 

During the meeting  Their Excellencies the committee members  gave a number of suggestions aimed at developing the tourism sector across the various governorates of Oman. They also discussed prominent investments and ongoing projects being undertaken by Omran, and emphasized the importance of continuing the implementation of wage support and other employment initiatives targeted at the sector.
 

In another discussion, the committee explored the motion regarding the transformation of certain wilayats into integrated tourism destinations. Members were briefed on Omran’s perspective on the proposal, its economic feasibility, and the potential benefits of such transformation. The discussion also touched on the company’s role in strengthening tourism services across the Sultanate and enhancing the competitiveness of its tourism offerings. The meeting featured in-depth deliberations with the aim of producing constructive recommendations to support this transformation.
 

The committee examined the motion proposing the establishment of integrated service stations for mobile homes and tourism-related services. In this context, discussions focused on Omran’s contribution to service development that would enhance the tourism sector, including its initiatives to support service and logistics-related projects. The company also shared its views on the importance of establishing such facilities to bolster tourism infrastructure.
 

The committee reviewed several agenda items, including the approval of its report on the motion to hold an auction for the sale of cultural and heritage collectibles.