MUSCAT, 12 May 2004 — Nestled at the bottom of the Arabian Peninsula and blessed by the monsoon rains, Oman seems like an oasis in the Gulf region.
Suddenly, Oman has woken up to realize it has some precious and sellable assets. An increasing number of visitors see it as a rare tourist destination that offers a pristine environment of desert, mountains and sea with a unique history.
“In the 1980s, there was no tourism at all. It wasn’t in the picture, we have woken up to realize that we live in a paradise,” said Saleh Al-Zakwani, who founded Apex, the country’s first tourist publication to promote Oman’s riches.
“It is very different. The rest of the Gulf doesn’t have anything like that,” he said.
Oman’s beautiful landscape, majestic forts, sandy beaches, magnificent desert, rugged mountains and lush south are unmatched in its charm in the region. Its 500 forts, castles, watchtowers, museums and mosques bear witness to its glorious and proud past, which dates back around 5,000 years.
Its ancient architecture of white stone and mud brick houses and old harbors dotted with fishing dhow boats take visitors back in time. Two forts, Jalali and Mirani, both built by the Portuguese, guard the entrance to the capital Muscat.
“This is a magnificent place. Its scenery, greenery, beaches, purple-black mountains are striking. You feel as if you have arrived in an oasis,” said French tourist Chantale Clustre.
In the capital Muscat, tourists can find almost everything possible. You go out boating and you see dolphins and whales. In another hour you can be looking at caves, driving through the desert or indulging in history, visiting forts and museums and old traditional souks.
Above all, at a time when tensions are rippling across the Arab and Islamic world it is a rare oasis of relaxed tolerance, peace and tranquility.
What makes Oman very special, tourists say, is its people. Omanis are friendly and hospitable. Religion is a private affair. Proud as they are of their culture and religious traditions, they wear them lightly and do not impose them on visitors.
This feature does not go unnoticed among tourists.
“This place is multi-cultured, it is friendly Islam and is friendly to tourists. It is safe in Oman. It is beautiful and peaceful,” said German Christina Klaus.
Sipping soft drinks with songbirds flying over, tourists enjoying the sunshine and balmy breeze look mesmerized by the beauty and serenity around them.
“I found here the peace and tranquility I was looking for,” said Italian Lucian Longhi, a retired businessman.
“The virgin nature here is captivating. We can walk on the beach, and enjoy the sea, sun and watching the fishermen.”
Tourism under-secretary Salem Al-Muaameri said more than one million tourists visit Oman every year. Britons are the largest group, followed by Germans, French and Italians.
Muaameri said tourism accounts for one percent of GDP but expected it to rise by 2020 to three to five percent. But he said Oman, keen on preserving its heritage, was wary of over expanding.
“We don’t want Oman to lose its soul and spirit. We are very sensitive about this issue. We look for controlled tourism. We look for the tourists who respect our customs, traditions and heritage. We’re very optimistic and we are not in a hurry.”
Oman, the second largest country in the Gulf after Saudi Arabia, had its share of trouble. It fought its own war against leftist Omani insurgents and won it with the backing of British troops in the 1970s.
Lately Oman, like many other destinations in the Middle East has fallen victim to the reputation of the volatile region, plagued with wars and militant violence. As a result of the latest US war on Iraq, the country suffered huge cancellations.
“Oman is part of the region and we were affected. The problem is that when they (West) talk about the region they talk about it as one country. People think we are very close, that if there is a war in one country there is war everywhere,” Muaameri said.