Historical Development in the Sultanate of Oman - Essay Example

? Tourism in the Sultanate of Oman Table of Contents List of Figures 3 Introduction 4 Historical Development 6 Background 6 Tourism 8 Current Provisions 10 Overview 10 Muttrah Souk 11 Wadi Bani Khalid 13 Compare and Contrast 15 Market potential 16 Muttrah Souk 16 Wadi Bani Khalid 17 Overall Marketing Issues 17 Management Issues 18 Suggestions 19 Conclusion 20 Bibliography 22 List of Figures Figure Page 1. Location of Oman on the Map………………………………….…… 7 2. Traditional shop at Muttrah Souk.................................................. 12 3. Wadi Bani Khalid........................................................................... 14 Tourism in the Sultanate of Oman Introduction Oman is a country on the Arabian Peninsula. The tourism in Oman has grown rapidly in the last ten years, and it is expected to be one of the largest industries in the nation. The country has one of the most diverse environments in the Middle East with various visitor attractions and is particularly well known for cultural tourism. Recently, Lonely Planet Travel Guide named Oman as the 2nd best city to visit for 2012. The capital of Oman has also been selected as the capital of Arab tourism for 2012. The director of tourism Salim Bin Adey Al Mamari said the country had 1.6 million tourists in 2010, and they are expecting to increase this figure by 7% in 2011 (Claire Ferrislay 2011). Between the year 2000 and 2010, the industry of tourism in Oman increased as the government has managed to achieve the following targets: Allowing different types of private sector activities by removing visa barriers and providing the basic need of hotels, international airports, and various natural tourism attractions Developing tourism projects and building roads to improve links to remote areas. Preserving Oman’s historical landmarks and environment to allow its cultural heritage and protect its ecosystem from increasing the number of tourists visiting the country. Generating additional employment opportunities for locals and focusing on hiring from the indigenous population for the majority of jobs in the tourism industry, including the low skilled and low paid employees. This essay will include two attractions under different sectors, which then will be compared and contrasted. Both attractions will be examined for the following areas: Historical Development – a brief overview of the history. Current provisions – what do they offer. Market Potential – current market target. Management issues Suggestions Conclusion In this essay the private sector will be Muttrah Souk as the first attraction and Wadi Bani Khalid as a public sector typed attraction. Both chosen attractions are based in Sultanate of Oman and will be examples for showing the reasons for the increases for the number of visitors in Oman with the historical value of the country being the primary attraction to many tourists from all over the globe. According to B.S. Badan Harish Bhatt (2007), travel and tourism is a major industry across the globe. In the current years the industry has witnessed unprecedented growth. The number of consumers that have increased on a demand of education and participatory travel experience has resulted in a variety of specialty niche markets such as, ecotourism, cultural heritage and agritourism. Lindsay W. Turner (2009) supports the above statement by stating that the “World international tourism increased by nearly 5.4% between 2005 and 2006. This level of increase represents a return to a stable growth pattern where it would be expected that growth would range between five and six percent. It also provides a benchmark figure against which to measure growth in larger markets. This, of course, was significantly before the world markets began to suffer from economic down turns, which have impacted the level of tourism across the world. However, the types of travel that are still desired have changed because of the earlier growth and less common locales are still seeing an increase in overall tourism from the rates from the previous decade. Historical Development Background The Sultanate of Oman is located in southwest Asia on the Arabian Peninsula with Saudi Arabia to the west and Yemen to the southwest. The coast of Oman spans from the Gulf of Oman which is on the northeast side with the Arabian Sea laying to the southeast, giving the nation a long beachfront space (fig. 1) (Wikipedia 2011). The nation is a Sultanate, which means that it is ruled through a monarchy which exerts absolute rule over the nation. A Parliament is the legislative branch of the government but is subjected to the rule of the Sultan. The current Sultan of Oman is Qaboos bin Said al Said who took ruling power from his father through overthrowing his power. He is the 14th generation of his family to hold this power which is considered the Al Bu Sa’idi dynasty. Oman is ruled through absolute control of the Sultan with some capacities given to the Parliament to make decisions, even though they are subject to the final decision of the Sultan. Although he does not give democratic freedoms, he keeps his country neutral and supports both his Arab neighbors while keeping good relationships with Britain and the United States. In 1998 he was presented with an the International Peace Award from the International Council on US – Arab relations for his efforts towards keeping peace between Western and Middle East cultures (Omanet 2009). Location of Oman on the Map (fig. 1) Oman became an Islam nation during the seventh century A.D. The Ibadhi form of Islam allows for ‘moderate conservatism’ in which the choice of a leader is created through a mutual consensus. Europe and Oman were introduced to each other during 1508 when Portugal conquered part of the coastal region. Structures that were left by the Portuguese from that period are still in existence in Muscat (History of Oman 2004). Although there have been brief periods of occupation, for most of history Oman has been an independent nation. With a secular monarch and the support of the elected religious leaders, trade was established on the Persian coast was established which provided for outlets to the known world. For most of its known history and because of its location the nation was known for being seafaring and involved in trade (Ochs 2000). This lead to the nation being one of the most powerful Arab states settled on the coast of East Africa. France and Britain competed to create treaties and increase commerce with the nation with Britain entering into treaties both in 1908 and 1951. Although Britain had a policy of imperialism during the late 18th and early 19th century, the Sultanate of Oman was recognized and respected as an independent state because of the power they held for trade purposes (History of Oman 2004). The current Sultan overthrew his father because he saw great problems in his nation. He saw “a country plagued by endemic disease, illiteracy, and poverty” so he abolished the strict laws of his father which had created migration away from the country and offered amnesty to those who were oppositional to his father so that they might return. He modernized the governmental structure and upgraded educational and health opportunities. He created a modern infrastructure so that the nation could keep up with the current global economy as it emerged.Top of ForBottom of Form Tourism Tourism in Oman is still a relatively young industry as even as late as the 1980s no one was allowed in the country without sponsorship from a citizen. In 1983, the first 14 tourists were allowed in the country (Darke and Schields 2010). In 2001 Harrison reports that the government of Oman was in the process of creating a national plan to increase tourism to the region. Tourism in Oman has developed slowly. In 2004 Mak reports that the Sultanate of Oman restricted the number of tourists allowed into the country, primarily through requiring anyone who is visiting to be booked on a tour. One of the primary factors for working towards establishing changes that would affect the tourism industry is that late 20th century participation in the global economy was through oil reserves that were discovered in 1964. Those oil reserves have depleted and another resource for revenue has been important to cultivate (Gonzalez 2008). In July of this year a press release was provided to journalists in which positive and negative aspects for both tourism and tourist based investing was discussed. The reasons that Oman is a good choice for tourists looking to visit the Middle East are: There are very significant investments being made in facilities and supporting infrastructure. The economy is solidly based and in a position to support the planned investments in its tourism sector. Oman Air, as an indicator for the industry is presently thriving. In its 2010 profit announcement the company reported a 40% increase in revenues - at a time of very lack lustre growth for civil aviation globally. As the shadow from the Global Financial Crisis recedes, the company has resumed its services between Salalah and Dubai and between Muscat and Zanzibar. It has also announced that it is introducing daily flights between Colombo and Muscat (Wood 2011). Risks to the tourist trade include: While Oman has avoided most of the political upheaval that has rocked the region there are still questions and many turn on the position of the Sultan. Sultan Qaboos has been in power for 40 years. He has done much to modernise the country and is popular to the point of unchallengeable. However, he is now ageing and there is no apparent succession plan. The country has a young demographic. More than half the population is under 25 and the labour market is struggling to absorb the large number of relatively well educated people coming into the workforce each year. The present solution of creating ever more government jobs cannot continue forever. Between January and November of this year, Oman saw a record number of tourists with 1.12 million visitors arriving. In October and November 220,000 people visited the nation with that showing a 50% increase from 2010. The raise in tourism to Oman is likely due to the turmoil in other Middle Eastern nations and as the cold weather urges European travellers to warmer climates, the peaceful state of Oman is an attractive alternative (Reuters 2011). Current Provisions Overview According to Ryan (1995) visitors gets motivation by escaping and pulling factors to the destination or an attraction that shows the purpose of the visit. According to Fyall (2003) the core product offered by the visitor attraction is mainly as it creates an attraction to pull the visitor to visit to the first instance. The expectations of the tourist industry in Oman is that it will be focused on bringing upscale forms of visits with the intention of experiencing the culturally relevant areas of the state. The older buildings, the local traditions, and the history of the nation as it is available to experience through locations is what is hoped for the growth of tourism in the nation (Darke and Schields 2010). Muttrah Souk The Muttrah souk provides a unique experience for visitors as it present the history and heritage of the country. The souk has a wide variety of items and this has been the case for a very long time as this is the oldest souk in Oman. In 2005 a modernization project brought the level of attractiveness from a multi-national perspective up to a state in which people from all levels of society and from any place in the world would have a more comfortable and attractive experience. The market is a mixture of outdoor stalls and indoor stores as they line the streets, the entrance now a large dome which are directly across from the pedestrian traffic lights and since the modernization is far more visible (Darke and Schields 2010). The Muttrah souk attraction does not have a type of web site, so the visitor usually can get information from hotels or tour companies. Where the souk was once confusing for tourists as the area was stuffed with booths and vendors, part of the modernization included making it a bit more organized and housing it under a barasti which is a palm frond roof. The area, however, still has the feel of an ancient Arab market with the sounds of bartering and the energy of business being conducted between buyers and sellers as opposed to the more common forms of consumerist behaviour (fig.2). The market still hosts a system of haggling for prices and working towards the sale for both the sellers and the buyers (King 2009). The market represents the traditions of the nation in a modernized atmosphere which allows tourists to discover an aspect of the Oman heritage without the risks involved in a random encounter with a culture where misunderstandings can occur. In the market tourists are expected. Traditional shop at Muttrah Souk (fig. 2) The products found in the Old Muttrah Souk vary and will suit the budget of the visitors as they range from the inexpensive to the exotic and rare. The shoppers can bargain and find goods suitable to their need. All the shops in Old Muttrah Souk in Muscat provide admirable items, which attract the visitors and keep them, engage in shopping. The souks are the best place to purchase local crafts and European imports as well. The other goods found in the Old Muttrah Souk at Muscat are Omani designer products which means that this area mostly attract tourists and is known as the catchment area in the market. The buyers can choose from the variety of clothes, perfume and general-purpose products. The souk is being visited by all type of people, when it come to locals, they do visit the place in a daily basis as the souk provides all type of necessary household item. The place is also crawdad by tourists in all type of age group usually buy some traditional Omani jewelries. Buying an item in this souk can be seen cheap for tourists, but in reality tourists are more likely to be charged double, as they do not have the knowledge of pricing in Oman and are inexperienced in haggling in the traditions of the marketplace. The souk is located in a very beautiful location; during their visit people can always have a coffee, tea or even meals in a beautiful Cornish and it’s a good opportunity for them to take photos as the place is known as one of the best cornices in Oman. Wadi Bani Khalid Wadi Bani Khalid is a valley area that is an attraction that is based on the natural environment (fig. 3). The beautiful views of the valleys and the natural occurring natural attractions create an inspiring experience; this includes the Maqal cave which is one of the best chambers in Oman. Visitors need to be prepared for a level of physical activity and they should be prepared for the adventure for this attraction. There is a village beside the valley called Badaa which is well known as a touristic stop, as the village is quite old and most of houses are made clay. The valley is one of best places for people who like nature and some adventure (Ochs 2000). The region has a number of plantations as well as the natural area, creating a sense of the more rural life and culture of Oman (Thomas 2011). Wadi Bani Khalid (fig. 3) The Moqal cave is a wonderful experience, but is not intended for the casual tourist. The cave entrance is only one meter high and to get to the entrance requires specialized equipment. The climb to get to the cave is difficult and young children have a difficult time with accomplishing the task (Darke and Schields 2010). The Moqal cave, though a beautiful attraction, is a specialized type of tourist attraction that appeals to only certain types of tourists. Wadi Bani Khalid attracts families and tourists, many tourists get amazed of this place, they can swim in the valley in very clean spring water. Whereas the families usually visit this place and they consider it as a trip. Normally families from the city visit the place during the weekend, escaping from the busy city to a quitter town. A trip to To Wadi Bani Khalid is usually made by hiring a car or going by a tour company, it is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes driving, tourists usually prefer to hire a car which most of them do because it cost around ?35.00 for 24 hours. Hiring a private company is quite hire then renting a car. The average price of a tour company is ?75.00per person. Compare and Contrast Muttrah Souk attracts all type of people. This market targets mostly families and tourists who are interested in discovering the history and heritage. The national tourism efforts are focused on developing places such as the market and it has an advantage as attention is spent on creating modern, yet culturally reflective atmosphere such as the souk. There isn’t any official statistic available for both attractions which makes is quite hard to be analyzed in terms of type of visitors and age group. This would reflect the number of visitors who are visiting these two attractions, although because of the suggestion of location and accessibility it is likely that more visit the souk over the wadi. The valley is quite far from the city which means visitors have to travel quite early in the morning. The souk, however, is near the city and tourists are not required to hire a car to reach there. It simple to get there normally taxis charge around ?10.00 to take people, of course this price is only for tourists, for locals its usually cost around ?0.70p to reach there. Locals usually visit the souk by using their own private cars, because of the cost of fuel. The fuel cost is around ?0.24p per litre which is why there is a high demand for locals to use their own cars. People do visit this place in all seasons. Oman is a relatively warm place year round where the temperature reaches 40 degrees in summer and 20 degrees in winter. Where one of these attractions has had a great deal of support in development, the other is a part of the lives of both locals and tourists, but is not the kind of attraction that has created financial support as of yet. Therefore, it is likely that it is only modestly supported by infrastructure and will have some difficulties for various cultures as their expectations may not be met. Market potential Muttrah Souk The Muttrah Souk has been proven as a good marketing opportunity for Oman as they have promoted their tourist industry. The heritage that is offered through the appeal of the open Arab market has been invaluable as the tourist industry has emerged and grown in Oman. Because the Sultan has shown an interest in developing the tourist industry, the investments into improving the souk have created a more easily accessible atmosphere for tourists. Because of the natural existence of tradition that still exists in the market, it is an attraction that both fit into the governmental plans for increased tourism as well as into the interests of the type of tourists that are being attracted to Oman. Because the government wishes to focus on cultural and heritage attractions, the accessibility to historic sites must be considered before this end of the market is fully opened. The archaeologically interesting areas and the older structures that are still standing do not yet have the developed infrastructure to support tourist activity to the degree that will be necessary in order to fully exploit those resources. The Muttrah souk is an example of how modernisation can be combined with tradition and heritage in order to attract tourists. Wadi Bani Khalid The market potential for Wadi Bani Khalid has yet to be fully explored, but the potential is of concern where the desires of the government are concerned. The infrastructure supports tourism in the area, but has yet to reach a high level (Daher 2007: 196). To date, the financing of the infrastructure is primarily dependent upon private funds, the government allowing the building, but the investment coming from private operators. This leaves a number of open questions about the future of the area as the development, while restricted by government, is not being lead by the government (Daher 2007: 196). Overall Marketing Issues The government is spearheading a great deal of issues where the growth of the tourist industry in Oman is concerned. The lack of a web presence indicates that modern methods of communication are still not yet being fully exploited. The government has control of the information that is released, which suits the type of government that has been created, but is not reaching a wide enough audience. The European tourism market is the market that has the highest potential for growth for Oman, therefore methods of reaching that market must be employed in order to best create a presence for the choices available to European travellers. One of the problems that is currently emerging is that the different interested parties, such as the Ministry of Sports Affairs and the governmental offices of air travel are not all working in collaboration where creating a national brand are concerned. Creating a national brand in order to support industry as a whole is essential in increasing the GDP for the nation. Through cooperation between tourism and business, the branding of the nation is crucial to increase awareness of the potential available in the country and through establishing a global presence (Alzadjali 2010). Management Issues The Oman government intends to increase the industry of tourism to 5% of the overall GDP by 2020. According to Darke and Schields (2010: 22), “Oman has repeatedly stressed its desire to encourage upmarket tourism, focusing on cultural and heritage attractions”. Ecotourism is not being encouraged so backpacking or creating vacations on a low budget are not desirable as they open up too much free movement within the nation. The current state of entry into the country is allowable to 75 countries with the ability to obtain a month long valid visa. The number of beds available is 60,000, which is hoped to increase to 100,000 by the year 2012 (Darke and Schields 2010). As the private sector is being called upon to help finance the infrastructure that is needed to create an acceptable environment for travellers, controlling the impact that building has on both economic and environmental factors is an issue. The Forts and Castles Development Project has the goals of “manage, interpret and revive these historical buildings” (Daher 2007: 196). What is being neglected are a series of oases in which the nomadic settlements have been relocated to the cities, leaving these rural areas unattended which are quickly falling into disrepair. These areas are ripe for redevelopment into tourist areas, preserving their culture and tradition in order to support their historic value and their value to the tourism industry. Some of these areas are in the Wadi Bani Khalid and the boost to cultural experiences would help the area to fit into the goals of the Ministry of Tourism. Suggestions As Alzadjali (2010) discovered, there is very little cooperation between the different departments that would be relevant to the development of tourism. One of the best ways to encourage tourism is to create a cooperate effort through a national plan that works like a business plan for the development of tourism based efforts. The nation has done a great deal towards this goal, but more cooperation would help to promote the achievements that the nation has set for their future in the industry. The natural beauty and cultural heritage of the outer areas are perfect for exploitation in order to both preserve the diversities in the cultures across the nation and to preserve the natural and historic environments. Rather than focusing only on upscale travel, creating diversity in travel availability will allow for the development of a scale of attractions from which a wide variety of travellers can choose for experiences. In 1998 the navies of both Oman and India created an agreement to work together in order to provide greater protection for both ports. The two nations are founding members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association which acts as a trade and investment organisation (Kemp 2010). In this spirit of cooperation, tourism is beginning to be a combined effort. Exploiting this relationship toward tourism industry goals would create joint tours that introduce travellers to India to Oman as a destination of choice. Both the Muttrah Souk and the Wadi Bani Khalid provide two different forms of attractions in order to create a variety of experiences for the potential traveller. Conclusion The tourism that has emerged in Oman is based on both a desire to share their culture and heritage with the world and to exploit the industry in order to increase the GDP. The tourist attractions at the Muttrah Souk and Wadi Bani Khalid offer different types of experiences with a wide difference in how the government desires to exploit their potentials. The government has already invested a great deal in modernizing the souk, creating a cultural experience in a modern atmosphere for travellers. The Wadi Bani Khalid is in need of attention with both the concern of how to exploit the natural wonders of the area as well as preserve what the nation would wish to protect. The Muttrah is currently a better choice due to accessibility, infrastructure, and modernization for attracting tourists form a wide variety of interests. 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