Muscat: The Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED) today convened the fourth dialogue session titled “Enhancing Small and Medium Enterprises Investment in the Tourism Sector.”
This session serves as a continuation of a series of meetings and dialogues initiated by the Authority. The objective of these sessions is to enhance the business environment and its appeal to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), while also contributing to the development of supportive policies and encouraging entrepreneurs to present innovative ideas.
The dialogue session addressed four key themes related to the development of the tourism sector, including supporting policies and legislation in the tourism sector, regulatory procedures and standards necessary for quality, safety, operation, and licensing, employment contracts and usufruct lands within the sector, and the enabling factors that support the sector, such as financing and investment programs, training, incentives, and facilities, partnership programs, incubators, and business accelerators.
Azzan bin Qassim Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism, stated that this dialogue session will facilitate the learning process for both male and female entrepreneurs regarding the Ministry’s programs. He emphasized that the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is dedicated to implementing a variety of programs that are of interest to small and medium enterprises.
He further mentioned in a statement to journalists that the Ministry has engaged with an expertise house to implement an integrated management plan for A’Sharqiyah Sands. The purpose of this initiative is to preserve this unique site, which targets a specific segment of tourists. Additionally, he highlighted that investment opportunities for complementary projects to the existing projects in A’Sharqiyah Sands will be updated to enhance competitiveness and attract a larger segment aiming to create a broader economic impact.
Regarding the heritage sector, the Tourism Undersecretary explained that the Ministry has offered a wide range of investment opportunities within this sector. This sector presents an opportunity for Omani companies, primarily small and medium enterprises, to manage and operate heritage and historical facilities. He also mentioned that more opportunities will be made available in the forthcoming period.
The dialogue session concluded with numerous recommendations and proposals, with the most significant being the facilitation of tourism legislation through the development of flexible laws for obtaining licenses, increasing awareness of the importance of tourism through internal and external campaigns, supporting small and medium enterprises by securing tourism project contracts, reducing taxes, and providing incentives.
The session was attended by Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, Halima Rashid Al Zar’ei, Chairperson of ASMED, Hussain bin Ali Al Lawati, CEO of the Oman Development Bank, and officials from the Ministry, alongside small and medium enterprises owners engaged in the activities of the tourism sector.
