Muscat – The Sultanate of Oman, through the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT), is set to commemorate World Heritage Day on Thursday. This year’s celebration, themed ‘Discover and Experience Diversity’, aligns with the global observance of the day dedicated to promoting cultural heritage.

In conjunction with World Heritage Day, Oman will introduce the ‘Sur – Capital of Arab Tourism Programme’ for 2024. This initiative aims to highlight the historical and archaeological wealth of Sur, enhancing its profile as a key destination for culture tourism.

H E Ibrahim bin Saeed bin Khalaf al Kharousi, Undersecretary for Heritage at MHT, underscored the significance of the day. “World Heritage Day offers a unique opportunity to highlight our rich cultural legacy, which mirrors our historical and civilisational roots,” he stated. 

The undersecretary outlined the day’s objectives, which include raising awareness on heritage conservation, promoting community participation in safeguarding heritage, encouraging research in cultural heritage, and building community partnerships to bolster identity and citizenship.

The ministry has planned a series of activities at City Walk Centre in Sur to mark the occasion, including an exhibition, educational workshops for children on archaeological excavation techniques, decoupage workshops, and the crafting of souvenirs using ancient Omani symbols.

H E Kharousi also highlighted the ministry’s ongoing efforts to preserve heritage, including documentation and restoration of historical sites, conducting archaeological digs and cataloguing artefacts. These initiatives are aligned with Oman Vision 2040, aiming to enhance local economies through heritage tourism.

As of 2023, the ministry had documented approximately 36,000 archaeological sites and restored 366 historical monuments across the sultanate, promoting their preservation as symbols of Omani civilisation through the ages.

World Heritage Day was proposed by the International Council on Monuments and Sites in 1982 and approved by the General Assembly of Unesco in 1983. It is celebrated to raise awareness on the value of cultural heritage and emphasise the collective responsibility to protect and preserve it globally.