MUSCAT, 13 June 2004 — Oman’s first tourism minister, the second woman to be given a Cabinet portfolio, has spoken of her “pride and awe” at her appointment.
In her first interview with the state-run Oman Daily Observer after the appointment on Wednesday, Rajiha bint Abdul Amir said, “When I was informed, I had mixed feelings. I was excited, of course, by the honor bestowed on me by Sultan Qaboos. At the same time, I was aware of the responsibilities and challenges that I will face.”
Rajiha, who has been Oman’s first woman undersecretary since her appointment in the former Development Ministry said the future held great promise for Omani women. “All Omanis, including women, should continue to make progress in broadening their participation in the development and governance of the country.”
She said Omani women have “an excellent record of achievements in all spheres of society — political, legal, social, economic, medical and education.”
The creation of an independent Tourism Ministry, the first in a Gulf country, underlines the government’s keenness to attract sightseers from all over the world.
The sector’s contribution to the GDP is expected to rise to from the present one percent to three percent by 2010. A number of projects have been launched to attract sightseers from all over the world to Oman.
Dr. Rawaya bint Saud Al-Busaidi recently made history by becoming Oman’s first woman to hold a Cabinet portfolio following her appointment as higher education minister. Ayesha Al-Siyabi was the first Omani woman to achieve ministerial status with her appointment as head of a national handicraft corporation.
Omani women enjoy equal rights in the 1996 Basic Law, the Sultanate’s first written constitution which also guarantees judicial independence and human rights.
Omani women were heavily involved in last year’s historic elections in which the entire population, male and female, aged 21 and above was allowed to vote. There are two women in the 83-member Omani Majlis Al-Shoura, the lower house of Parliament elected last year for its fifth term. The upper house, the 57-member State Council, has seven women members.
