Oman launches longest tourist walkway in Nakhal

Dubai: Oman has launched its longest tourist walkway in the Wilayat of Nakhal, South Al Batinah Governorate, a major new initiative designed to revitalize rural tourism and support local communities.

The three-kilometer path will link the iconic Nakhal Fort with the popular Ain Al Thawwarah Park, weaving through lush agricultural villages, natural springs, and traditional aflaj irrigation systems along Wadi Nakhal.

The multimillion-rial project is expected to enhance the visitor experience by showcasing the wilayat’s rich ecological and cultural heritage. The walkway will be built in phases, with the first kilometer already planned and subsequent sections set for progressive development.

“The goal is to make the natural and historical beauty of Nakhal more accessible to visitors while generating new economic opportunities for residents,” said His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Saleh Al Busaidi, the Wali of Nakhal, during the announcement.

The walkway will feature paved stone or interlocking paths, eco-friendly lighting, and strategically placed public amenities. In a bid to involve the local community, farmers whose land lies along the route will be invited to develop tourism-friendly ventures such as eco-lodges, cafés, and electric shuttles to carry visitors between the fort and the park.

The project will reduce traffic congestion at key sites and create jobs in hospitality and sustainable tourism. It is overseen by a main supervisory committee, which recently held its first meeting to ratify the action plan and establish sub-committees to begin implementation.