Muscat – The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is paving the way for recreational, adventure and eco-tourism developments by offering a range of investment opportunities. As part of the efforts to this end, the ministry aims to establish seven tourist resorts and a visitor centre spread across the sultanate.

An official from the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism informed that these eight investment opportunities are being presented to invigorate the tourism sector.

Providing project specifics, he stated, “The ministry invites investors to build an eco-resort in the Ghab Ali area of Khasab, Musandam, spanning an area of 46,796sqm, and a sports and wellness resort in the Al Khashda area of Saham in North Batinah, covering 61,322sqm.”

The Iraqi region of Rustaq in South Batinah will see the development of a mountain resort spread over 43,744sqm.

Two of the seven resorts are planned in Dakhliyah, both in the wilayat of Al Hamra – a family recreational resort in Jabal Shams spread over 21,647sqm, and an adventure centre and resort in Jabal a’Sharqi covering 82,888sqm.

Dakhliyah will also get a visitor centre in the Hail al Yemen area of Jabal Akhdar spread over an area of 10,000sqm.

A tourist resort in Bimmah Beach in Quriyat is proposed on a vast expanse of land measuring 538,835sqm.

In Dhofar, a 487,486sqm historical and cultural resort is planned in Salalah.

Interested parties can obtain the tender documents until June 1. As per the public tender notice, the last date for bid submission is June 29.

The ministry is also actively working on over 40 projects to develop the adventure tourism sector. An executive plan to stimulate adventure tourism was launched in 2022 and will continue beyond 2025.

The ministry official highlighted ongoing projects, stating, “We are currently developing a cable car project in Oman Botanic Garden, constructing zip lines in various locations in Dhofar, including Wadi Darbat for the khareef season, and a suspension bridge in Wadi Shab in South Sharqiyah. A zip line in Musandam was opened recently.”

Among the significant projects outlined in the National Tourism Strategy is the Oman Botanic Garden, set to open its first phase by the end of 2023. Spanning 430 hectares in Al Khoudh, it is described as one of the world’s largest botanical gardens.