PHOTO
06 October 2015
Muscat: Oman stands to gain from a common visa for tourists visiting the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, sector professionals say.
A plan for issuing a common Gulf Cooperation Council countries tourist visa will be discussed at the GCC tourism ministries meeting in Qatar, according to the Ministry of Tourism (MOT).
Oman to take part
Oman will take part in the GCC tourism ministries meeting due to be held in Qatar later this week.
Oman's delegation will be led by Minister of Tourism, Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mahrizi. The meeting will aim to highlight the joint efforts being made to support tourism in the GCC countries and is also expected to discuss other topics of significance, including private participation in the tourism sector and setting up of a Gulf federation for handicrafts.
"It will be great if we have a unified tourist visa," said Vijay Handa, general manager, Masirah Island Resort. Officials said that once the visa comes into existence, it would allow tourists to obtain the visa from any of the member states, to enter all six countries.
Mohammed Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, the general manager of New Star International Travel and Tours LLC, said the number of tourists visiting would definitely grow if the provision for such a visa is approved.
The meeting at Qatar will also discuss a number of topics related to cooperation in the field of tourism in the GCC.
Similarly, how to facilitate the procedures will also be discussed. "The meeting will explore the immense potential to work together to contribute to inclusive economic growth, social development, and heritage preservation," a statement from the MOT said.
The ministerial meeting would also mark the beginning of a unified tourism action plan to strengthen cooperation among the GCC countries to spur growth in regional tourism. It would pave the way for enhancing tourism cooperation among GCC countries to better serve the people by developing the regional tourism sectors comprehensively.
During the meeting, the ministers will brainstorm ways and means to further upgrade tourism facilities in the region to an international level that would help take regional tourism to a new high.
A preparatory meeting of the undersecretaries for tourism affairs from GCC countries has already discussed the main points that will be discussed during the ministerial meeting.
Muscat: Oman stands to gain from a common visa for tourists visiting the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, sector professionals say.
A plan for issuing a common Gulf Cooperation Council countries tourist visa will be discussed at the GCC tourism ministries meeting in Qatar, according to the Ministry of Tourism (MOT).
Oman to take part
Oman will take part in the GCC tourism ministries meeting due to be held in Qatar later this week.
Oman's delegation will be led by Minister of Tourism, Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mahrizi. The meeting will aim to highlight the joint efforts being made to support tourism in the GCC countries and is also expected to discuss other topics of significance, including private participation in the tourism sector and setting up of a Gulf federation for handicrafts.
"It will be great if we have a unified tourist visa," said Vijay Handa, general manager, Masirah Island Resort. Officials said that once the visa comes into existence, it would allow tourists to obtain the visa from any of the member states, to enter all six countries.
Mohammed Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, the general manager of New Star International Travel and Tours LLC, said the number of tourists visiting would definitely grow if the provision for such a visa is approved.
The meeting at Qatar will also discuss a number of topics related to cooperation in the field of tourism in the GCC.
Similarly, how to facilitate the procedures will also be discussed. "The meeting will explore the immense potential to work together to contribute to inclusive economic growth, social development, and heritage preservation," a statement from the MOT said.
The ministerial meeting would also mark the beginning of a unified tourism action plan to strengthen cooperation among the GCC countries to spur growth in regional tourism. It would pave the way for enhancing tourism cooperation among GCC countries to better serve the people by developing the regional tourism sectors comprehensively.
During the meeting, the ministers will brainstorm ways and means to further upgrade tourism facilities in the region to an international level that would help take regional tourism to a new high.
A preparatory meeting of the undersecretaries for tourism affairs from GCC countries has already discussed the main points that will be discussed during the ministerial meeting.
© Times of Oman 2015
