The declaration of Muscat as the capital of Arab culture coincided with the Ministry of Tourism intense efforts to promote cultural tourism because of our vibrant cultural heritage and prominent historical sites spread across the Wilayats of the Sultanate.

The government of Oman and the Ministry of Tourism in particular, is making serious efforts to further enhance the tourism potential of the Sultanate by
creating world class infrastructure and amenities, at all tourist destinations. The mega real estate and tourism investment projects like the Blue City, The Wave, the Muscat Golf Club; the new star hotels coming up; the renovation and
addition of rooms and upgrading of facilities of existing hotels; are all efforts being made to accommodate the growing number of tourists visiting our
country now.

There are a considerable number of promising tourism areas in the Sultanate and accordingly the Seventh Five-Year Development Plan includes a number of tourism projects that will be implemented by both the government and the
private sector. The most important of these projects include resorts and tourist facilities in Yiti and Seifa in Muscat, Salalah, Mirbat and Shaa in Dhofar, Ras Al Hadd in Ash Sharqiyah, Ziqi and Haraf in Musandam and Shinas in Al Batinah.

The proposed high-speed ferry service scheduled for launch in late 2007 or early 2008 will cut down travel time between Musandam and Muscat from five hours to just one hour. The service is also expected to usher in a windfall of
business opportunities for the country's interior regions, boost tourism and
generate employment.

I take this opportunity to congratulate the team of DestinationOman for keeping the Oman flag flying high.

Dr. Rajiha Abdul Ameer Ali
Minister of Tourism