Master plan for Oman’s tourism hub unveiled

Muscat: Oman’s Minister of Transport and Communications, Dr Ahmad Bin Mohammad Al Futaisi, on Sunday announced a master plan to develop the existing Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat as a tourism hub.

In 2011, Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed had ordered shifting of the cargo and container operations from Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat to Sohar Industrial Port and convert Port Sultan Qaboos into an exclusive tourism port.

The minister also announced the establishment of a specialised company that will act as a developer for the project. The master plan includes retaining a commercial terminal that will be dedicated for export and import services related to certain goods and emergencies.

Al Futaisi told Oman News Agency that the new layout of the port includes eight main areas for tourism and services activities. The main area will house the marine façade of the port, the marinas for yachts, cruise liners and boats. The existing terminals will be revamped to meet these purposes. The minister pointed out that the new plan includes building new terminals for the cruise liners (third generation), terminals for receiving passengers, shops and multipurpose buildings, that were designed in a way that reflects Omani marine heritage and history. The new layout also includes hotels, yards, aisles and recreational centres.

He added that the master plan includes restructuring of the current terminal and the construction of new terminals to receive three cruise liners, each accommodating 11,000 passengers at one and the same time. It also includes the construction of floating docks that accommodate 150 boats and yachts.

“The master plan also includes a yacht club, service centres and marinas. The middle part will be rehabilitated to serve as a marina for yachts and ferry boats to receive wood ships, boats, traditional and tourism boats. This includes a dock to receive Shabab Oman vessel at the main field (marine façade),” said Al Futaisi.

He added that the new layout also includes the construction of a tourism hotel complex as per world standards, commercial markets that reflect Omani architectural design, a centre for recreational activities, restaurants, coffee shops, exhibition for marine species and multi-storey buildings as car parks, he said. The Royal yacht docks will be revamped, while new floating docks for the yachts and associated services will be added and new fixed docks will be built to absorb the existing and future commercial fishing boats. Floating docks that accommodate more than 60 boats will also be available to handle and receive fish from the traditional fishing boats, Al Futaisi said in his statement.

The minister added that retaking of a commercial service dock came in a bid to import cereals. The dock may be used in emergencies to export general cargo. The new layout also includes developing the coastal areas near the port, the western façade, to connect it to a network of pedestrian paths that will be constructed on the marine façade of Bahari road until Riyam Park. He also said that due to the importance accorded by the government to the port development projects, a final recommendations included establishing a specialised company to operate as developer for the port. This company may implement potential ventures with developers and third parties to invest in the commercial and infrastructure projects.

“Negotiations are going on with experienced international companies in the field of tourism projects development at the world tourism ports to strike strategic partnerships with them,” he added.

Al Futaisi hailed the existing co-operation between the public and private sector establishments who worked side by side with the ministry’s teams through workshops and meetings. They presented their remarks and visions on the study from the beginning until final approval of the master plan for the first tourism port in the Sultanate.

Al Futaisi affirmed that the ministry is currently setting up the developer company and preparing the tenders of the third stage for detailed studies and inspections. He hoped that the development programmes will be completed early 2014. A specialised consultant is currently making the study on transferring the commercial activities including container and general cargo handling to Sohar Port. The last date for receiving the container and general cargo terminal at Sultan Qaboos Port will be announced later.