FHW Staff – Mumbai
Oman is set to become a major regional centre for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) following the establishment of a new Oman Convention Bureau by the Ministry of Tourism, Oman.
Salim Al Mamari, director general – tourism promotion, Ministry of Tourism, Oman, said, “The Ministry of Tourism is fully committed towards enhancing the MICE sector in Oman to help the Sultanate achieve its potential to be a first class destination for this sector. Our Tourism Strategy for 2040 has MICE as a major pillar for the future to help us grow and enhance the industry. The objective of the bureau is to support the international and local organisations in hosting their events and cater to their requirements. The main aim is to promote Oman as an ideal destination for the MICE tourism sector.”
The ministry has appointed its director, Khalid Al Zadjali, to become the managing director of the new Oman Convention Bureau. He said, “The ministry’s initiative in establishing the bureau under its supervision is an important milestone in building the solid foundations that will help us achieve our objectives in the MICE tourism sector in the future. We will enhance this sector and regulate the processes to ensure smooth experience for organisations wishing to host events in Oman and actively promote what Oman has to offer to the MICE market internationally.”
The MICE area will receive a significant boost in 2016 with the scheduled opening of the Oman Convention Centre in Muscat in the last quarter of this year. The convention centre will include theatres, conference rooms and four hotels with around 1,000 rooms along with major exhibition halls.