Sunday 18 / May / 2025
Muscat: The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism stated that the number of visitors to castles, forts and historical monuments in Musandam Governorate during the past year 2023 reached 25,009 visitors. The number of visitors until the end of June of the current year 2024 reached 23,535 visitors.
Maryam bint Ahmed Al Shehhi, head of the Craft Heritage Section of the Heritage and Tourism Department in Musandam Governorate, said that the historical monuments in the governorate receive great interest among visitors coming from across the globe. It differs from one landmark to another through its historical vocabulary, which is the “Khasab” and “Al-Kamazra” forts in the Wilayat of Khasab, the fort of Bukha in the Wilayat of Bukha, and the fort of Dibba in the Wilayat of Dibba.
Al Shehhi added that offering Khasab Fort, Al Kamazara Fort, Bukha Fort and Dibba Fort in Musandam Governorate for investment by individuals and the private sector contributes to providing the opportunity for institutions and individuals to operate castles and forts in optimal and innovative ways while providing job opportunities.
Al Shehhi stressed that this trend comes within the tenth five-year plan of the Sultanate of Oman, which made it a priority to develop tourist heritage sites and cultural components to create a sustainable investment in heritage, culture and arts and contribute to the growth of the national economy by offering a group of heritage and tourist sites such as castles, forts, museums and ancient neighborhoods for sustainable tourism investment from by the private sector or through partnership between the two sectors to provide diverse and different tourism experiences.
She explained that the administration works, through coordination with their Excellencies in the governorate’s states, to hold many events for productive families, craftsmen, and owners of small and medium enterprises that would contribute to displaying their products, creating commercial activity for craftsmen, and enhancing the talent spread there by introducing the identity and originality of Omani crafts.
Bassam bin Mohammed Al Kamzari, head of the Antiquities and Museums Department of the Heritage and Tourism Department in Musandam Governorate, said that work is underway to develop archaeological sites of exceptional value and make them tourist destinations. Construction of the Dibba Archaeological Visitor Center began at the beginning of this year, with funding from OQ and the Musandam Governor’s Office. This site was discovered in 2012 and is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Sultanate of Oman dating back to the first millennium BC.
Bassam Al Kamzari explained that the site contains many archaeological tombs dating back to the early Iron Age, more than 190 skeletons, archaeological finds, pottery, stone and bronze vessels, and gold and bronze jewelry.
Al Kamzari stressed that specialists from the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, in cooperation with archaeological missions, are making great efforts through construction and excavation work at the site.
He pointed out that there are ongoing efforts to support and develop private museums by supporting private museum owners and constructing modern buildings for them or restored archaeological sites. These buildings and sites contain rare artifacts to be displayed prominently and preserved from any external factors that may cause damage to the pieces and to be new additions to the public museum system in the Sultanate of Oman. Specialists periodically visit private museums and archaeological sites to evaluate these museums, provide them with the necessary support, and ensure the quality of services provided to visitors.
