(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- The Public Authority for SME Development (Riyada) has registered 364 enterprises related to the tourism sector till January this year, said Sultan al Mawali, director of Marketing and Events at Riyada. The Ministry of Tourism is making conditions more conducive for registering and sustaining SMEs in the tourism sectors and expanding their tourism reach.
Muslim al Nabhani, director of tourism initiative and SMEs support, said that the role played by MoT in supporting SMEs in the tourism sector was very important. 'The ministry is creating an environment in which SMEs get the support they require for their growth, sustainability, competition and for facing challenges in the sector. It is also coordinating with the government and private financing organisations to make it easy for SMEs to get funding for their projects. It is also coordinating with the concerned authorities of the ministry to speed-up procurements and tenders.'
The ministry is also doing a follow-up on SMEs trying to obtain licences. On the department's support in strengthening local tourism companies, Nabhani said that the department was trying to give these companies the opportunity to manage some sites at various tourist destinations. 'It is also giving the SMEs support to attend foreign exhibitions in Europe, to promote the sultanate, attract tourists and make integrated tourism programs for them in various tourist destinations of the sultanate.'
Mawali said that Riyada provides several technical programmes for owners of these enterprises so that they can promote their products and services inside and outside the sultanate. It also provides incubators for emerging enterprises in the first three years.
Riyada also provides SMEs with the appropriate working environment during the initial years of the project, and helps them in completing the technical and administrative works at a nominal cost so that the owners of the project give full attention to their work. It also gives training and skill development opportunities, guidance and advice to SMEs.
Riyada also helps these SMEs participate in national and foreign exhibitions so that they can promote and market their services and use the opportunity to enter into partnerships. 'It books space for the owners of the SMEs in the exhibitions. The fees is paid by Riyada. It advertises about these opportunities on social media as. The advertisement mentions the objectives of the exhibition as well as terms and conditions for participation,' said Mawali. He said that two SMEs Old Muscat Tourism and Sama Travel and Tourism participated in ITB Berlin in 2018, Al Furat Travel and Tourism and the Golden Tourism of Oman participated in WTM London and four other SMEs, Desert Flower Tours, Godoba and Jabal Shams Tours, participated in ITB Berlin this year.
Raed al Abri, owner of Godoba.com portal, said that his firm was selected by Riyada for participating in the ITB Berlin this year and he won the award for best travel and tourism website in the Arab world. Amir Abdullah al Zadjali, owner of Sama Travel & Tourism company has been promoting the sultanate's tourism since his student days in Malaysia. He continued to do so till he set up his own tourism company with his own efforts.
Sama Travel & Tourism is licensed by MoT and accredited by IATA. It offers a lot of tourism programmes inside and outside the sultanate. Yasir al Wuhaibi, owner of Al Madd wa Al Jazr Tourism company, said that it was important for the tourism sector to develop innovative projects. His company provides a range of services. Some of them include diving programmes and creating awareness on the importance of the marine environment. Sultan al Qamshoui, owner of Zair application for technical solutions, said that the tourism sector is the fastest growing sector of the sultanate.
His application offers a lunch or dinner experience with an Omani family in their house. This helps tourists in developing links with local people to learn about their customs and traditions. His company has entered into a contract with various tour operators. Samia al Busaidiyeh, owner of Muscat Nature Tours company, said investment in tourism supports local economy. Her company offers a range of recreational tourism services to make tourists feel at home.
Samia said that the company relies on new technology and continues to update its tourism programmes and services through its electronic application and social media. This is important as it targets tourists of various nationalities particularly those who come from Europe.
He said that two SMEs Old Muscat Tourism and Sama Travel and Tourism participated in ITB Berlin in 2018, Al Furat Travel and Tourism and the Golden Tourism of Oman participated in WTM London and four other SMEs, Desert Flower Tours, Godoba and Jabal Shams Tours, participated in ITB Berlin this year.
Raed al Abri, owner of Godoba.com portal, said that his firm was selected by Riyada for participating in the ITB Berlin this year and he won the award for best travel and tourism website in the Arab world. Amir Abdullah al Zadjali, owner of Sama Travel & Tourism company has been promoting the sultanate's tourism since his student days in Malaysia. He continued to do so till he set up his own tourism company with his own efforts. Sama Travel & Tourism is licensed by MoT and accredited by IATA. It offers a lot of tourism programmes inside and outside the sultanate.
Yasir al Wuhaibi, owner of Al Madd wa Al Jazr Tourism company, said that it was important for the tourism sector to develop innovative projects. His company provides a range of services. Some of them include diving programmes and creating awareness on the importance of the marine environment.
Sultan al Qamshoui, owner of Zair application for technical solutions, said that the tourism sector is the fastest growing sector of the sultanate. His application offers a lunch or dinner experience with an Omani family in their house. This helps tourists in developing links with local people to learn about their customs and traditions. His company has entered into a contract with various tour operators.
Samia al Busaidiyeh, owner of Muscat Nature Tours company, said investment in tourism supports local economy. Her company offers a range of recreational tourism services to make tourists feel at home.
Samia said that the company relies on new technology and continues to update its tourism programmes and services through its electronic application and social media. This is important as it targets tourists of various nationalities particularly those who come from Europe.
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