(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- The Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA) is planning to set up integrated tourism centres in different nature reserves of the sultanate.
With these centres, the ministry seeks to promote scientific research, provide tourist facilities and entertainment to visitors. 'We wish to benefit from the experiences of other countries in promoting eco-tourism. Our staff attended eco-tourism workshops and training programmes to understand the various aspects of the initiative,' said an official from MECA.
The official added that the aim is to harness all efforts in supporting eco-tourism in nature reserves in a sustainable manner. 'However, there are challenges that need to be tackled before it can be made into a reality. We lack the required human financial resources to implement the programme.'
Under the Tanfeedh programme, which has laid down standards for private investments in nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries, the ministry aims to transform nature sites into tourist hotspots. 'Nature reserves in the sultanate lack infrastructure needed to make them into tourists hotspots. Plans are afoot to develop the Al Saleel Wildlife Reserve in South Sharqiyah. Besides, the ministry will also speed up the implementation of tourist plans in the Qurum Nature Reserve in Muscat governorate,' the official said. 'We have 18 nature reserves through which we wish to preserve the biological diversity and promote sultanate in the world of eco-tourism.'
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