Will Tourism Change Sustainably Under Oman Vision 2040?

Is Tourism Development Within Oman Vision 2040 Sustainable?

Whether the intended Oman Vision 2040 tourism development will be sustainable is complex and subjective. It totally depends on how projects are implemented, and there is scant information on this.

Also, as a tourist, I can’t speak for Omani people, and what benefits me is not necessarily good for them. However, there are some objectively positive and negative characteristics of the tourism advancement in Oman Vision 2040.

Some Sustainability Benefits of Oman Vision 2040

⬩ Diversifying and developing new attractions is good for tourist dispersion, decreasing the risk of over-tourism at particular spots. Having said that, increased infrastructure can also lead to over-tourism if not managed. Recently, Wadi Shab was absolutely rammed with people, spilling out onto the streets. This popular attraction needs additional parking and improved organisation. However, by making these changes, it may just encourage increased visitor numbers at peak times. Instead, encouraging visitation to several other accessible wadis as options for visitors would improve tourist dispersal.

⬩ Tourism can help preserve Oman’s heritage and history. By having the resources to restore ruins, construct museums and safeguard historical sites, the country can increase cultural awareness and enhance the visitor experience simultaneously.

⬩ As an industry, sustainable tourism encourages the empowerment of women; tourism is a trade where women are sorely needed. Women guides, drivers and women-run businesses are more and more in-demand. This requirement will only increase with more visitors, especially from the West.

⬩ Many of the adventure tourism endeavours, mentioned here previously, are to be operated by small- and medium-sized businesses. This is a superb way to stimulate the economy in regions that have little other profitable options. Increasing employment and training opportunities for Omani citizens in more remote areas is in line with the sustainability aims of reducing poverty and inequality.

⬩ When it comes to safety and risk management, more guidelines and regulations are necessary as part of the development of adventure tourism. Enhanced training and parameters is vital for protecting workers and tourists, especially during riskier adventure activities.

⬩ Oman has a trash problem. It’s not as bad as some countries we’ve visited recently (looking at you Saudi and Tunisia), but it’s definitely a topic worthy of discussion. Providing more facilities that support and encourage residents to keep their beaches, trails and mountains clean would no doubt be beneficial for the environment.

⬩ Separate from the direct impacts of tourism above: reducing the sultanate’s dependence on the energy trade towards a more sustainable, non-oil-based economy can only be a positive move for future Oman.

Some Sustainability Negatives of Oman Vision 2040

⬩ An increase in tourist infrastructure requires an increase in personnel to manage it. This can result in the need for an increased foreign labour force and a shortage of Omanis who have the education and appropriate training to implement sustainable practices.

⬩ Tourism expansion poses an obvious risk to the environment. This ranges from potential changes in waterways like wadis, to destruction caused by urban development. More flights and cars are another inevitable consequence of additional visitors. I’ve not read anything about increasing buses to-and-from the UAE, for example. Currently, there are two companies running this route, however marketing this option could increase visits from the tourist masses in Dubai and in tandem be better for the environment.

⬩ Mis-managed tourism endeavours threaten traditional lifestyles and customs, one of the core tenets of sustainability. Profit-based businesses commonly tend to overlook the impact inflicted on the culture of an area (the environment gets far more attention in sustainability circles). There are also direct consequences of more people on local culture, for example tourists dressing indecently and taking inappropriate photos.

⬩ An issue with the development of places like Majlis Al Jinn, on the Salma Plateau, is that it not only needs facilities, but access too. Currently, it’s quite a remote, steep and rough road to reach the cave, so does the plan include improvements to the road? If so, then that will, no doubt, change the region significantly.  Whether the majority of residents on the plateau would welcome lots of visitors passing by their homes is unknown.

⬩ From a tourist point of view, Oman is a pleasure to travel around because tourist harassment is extremely rare. Some countries, like Egypt and Morocco, have a sketchy reputation for tourists being hounded and pursued. Oman has a very limited amount of this. However, paved trails around wadis, villages and hiking routes will likely encourage unofficial guides to camp out at parking areas. It also encourages child labour. This already happens at the popular Wadi Tiwi and Wadi Arbaeen, and could get worse with development that lacks oversight.