Muscat,
The Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED) today organized the fourth dialogue session entitled “Enhancing Small and Medium Enterprises Investment in the Tourism Sector.”
The session comes as a continuation of a series of meetings and dialogues implemented by the Authority. These sessions aim to improve the business environment and its attractiveness to the SMEs, and to contribute to developing supportive policies and encouraging entrepreneurs to present innovative ideas.
The dialogue session discussed 4 themes concerned with developing the tourism sector, namely the supporting policies and legislation in the tourism sector, the regulatory procedures and standards required for quality and safety, operation, and licenses. It also discussed employment contracts and usufruct lands in the sector, in addition to the enabling factors supporting the sector, such as financing and investment programmes, training, incentives and facilities, partnership programmes, incubators and business accelerators.
Azzan bin Qassim Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism, said that this dialogue session will pave the way for male and female entrepreneurs to learn more about the Ministry’s programmes. He noted that the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is working on diverse programmes of interest to SMEs.
He said in a statement to journalists that the Ministry has contracted with one of the expertise houses to implement an integrated management plan for A’Sharqiyah Sands. He explained that the move aims at preserving this unique site as an area targeting a specific segment of tourists.
He added that investment opportunities for complementary projects to the existing projects in A’Sharqiyah Sands will also be updated to raise the competitiveness rate and its ability to attract a larger segment aiming to create a broader economic impact.
Regarding the heritage sector, the Tourism Undersecretary explained that the Ministry has offered a large group of investment opportunities in this sector. The sector provides an opportunity for Omani companies, mostly SMEs, to manage and operate some heritage and historical facilities. Other opportunities will be offered in the upcoming period, Al Busaidi added.
The session came out with many recommendations and proposals, the most prominent of which were facilitating tourism legislation by developing flexible laws for obtaining licenses, raising tourism awareness on the importance of tourism and organizing internal and external campaigns, supporting SMEs by obtaining tourism project contracts, reducing taxes and providing incentives.
The dialogue session was attended by Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, Halima Rashid Al Zar’ei, ASMED Chairperson, Hussain bin Ali Al Lawati, CEO of the Oman Development Bank and officials from the Ministry, with the participation of SMEs owners in tourism sector’s activities.
