Muscat: The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MHT) is orchestrating the Omani Culinary Arts Festival, scheduled to take place from August 22 to 26 at Al Haffa Beach in Salalah. This event is set to coincide with the Dhofar Khareef 2024 activities.
Amira Iqbal Al Lawati, the Head of the Food Tourism and Culinary Arts Programme at the MHT, has announced that the festival will feature a diverse array of activities spanning the five-day duration.
Among the highlights are live cooking demonstrations by renowned chefs from both the Gulf and Oman, including Lulwa Altaanak, Nader Al Aisari, Ahmed Al Saadi, Mohammed Issa, Faisal Sajoor, Umm Ayman, and Khulood. Attendees can also look forward to a children’s cooking corner, folk music performances, and various competitions.
Furthermore, the festival will include a farmers’ corner highlighting local produce, restaurants serving authentic Omani cuisine, and a section dedicated to gifts and souvenirs.
Al Lawati further explained that the Omani Culinary Arts Festival is a pivotal component of the ‘Food Tourism and Culinary Arts’ programme.
Through this initiative, the Ministry aims to elevate and promote food tourism and culinary arts, with a particular focus on Omani cuisine, both domestically and internationally. This will be achieved through the organization of gatherings, festivals, events, and specialized forums dedicated to the advancement of food tourism and culinary arts.
She highlighted that the Ministry places a significant emphasis on the development of tourism that leverages the comparative and competitive advantages of Oman. This involves crafting visions for each category of tourism and devising strategic and promotional programmes to realize optimal results and sustainable objectives.
Al Lawati underscored the importance of the Omani Culinary Arts Festival as a critical segment of tourism, dedicated to the showcasing and promotion of Omani culinary arts.
Food and beverage, alongside the culinary arts, have consistently held a pivotal position within societies, mirroring the distinct cultural and civilizational variances that set them apart. There is a burgeoning trend globally towards embracing this facet of tourism.
She highlighted that the Sultanate of Oman is distinguished by its rich cultural heritage, its commendable reputation, and the genuineness of its welcoming community, all of which position it favorably to capitalize on the realm of food tourism and culinary arts.
She underscored the multitude of professions associated with culinary arts and the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism's commitment to fostering these programs and career trajectories.
This encompasses the training of Omani chefs through international initiatives to refine their skills and serve as ambassadors for Omani cuisine in various destinations.
The Food Tourism and Culinary Arts Programme is dedicated to chronicling the heritage, history, and traditions of Omani cuisine.
The objective of this programme is to safeguard and perpetuate this heritage through the innovation and development of recipes and menus that cater to the changing preferences of tourists, while preserving the fundamental elements that characterize these dishes.
Furthermore, the programme focuses on the innovation of products within the supply chain to enhance competitiveness, thereby benefiting local communities.
It also seeks to cultivate entrepreneurial opportunities across manufacturing, services, and tourism products, as well as innovative experiences.
The Ministry underscored that the effective execution of these initiatives hinges on the collaborative efforts of public and private sector stakeholders, tourism sector partners, and the active participation of the local community, enthusiasts, associations, and chefs.
