19 June 2013
Muscat: Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran), the investment arm of the government to develop tourism infrastructure, and its joint venture affiliates will add around 3,650 new hotel rooms in four and five star categories in the next five to seven years.
These projects, which include hotels coming up at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, Alila Jabal Akhdar Resort, Saraya Bandar Jissah, Muriya's hotels in Jebel Sifah and Salalah and Musandam Resort, are in different stages of planning, design and construction.
New hotels, resorts
"If you look at the convention centre, that alone will add 1,000 rooms, Muriya will add 1,500 rooms in Jebel Sifa and Salalah Beach, Saraya Bandar Jissah will add 350 rooms and Omran's other projects will add another 700 to 800 rooms as per the plan," said Eng Wael Al Lawati, chief executive officer of Omran.
Briefing the media on the achievements of the company and future plans, he said studies are also going on to expand the existing hotels. "If you look at four and five star categories, we will be more than doubling the capacity in the country," he said, adding; "We will also be focusing on affordable hotels. We are also studying and designing entertainment projects." Omran recently opened such a facility at Musannah Beach Hotel.
Cable car project
The company is now working on a cable car project in Jebel Shams in an attempt to provide associated entertainment elements.
Referring to the progress in building various hotels and tourism infrastructure projects, Eng Al Lawati said work on Alila Jabal Akhdar Resort in Al Jabal Al Akhhdar is 60 per cent complete now. "We hope to complete the work by the end of the year." Omran is building the 86 suite five-star Alila Jabal Akhdar Resort, which will be managed by the Singapore-based Alila Hotels and Resorts. Progress has already been achieved in building Saraya Bandar Jissah, an integrated tourism complex to come up in joint venture with Saraya Developments of Jordan.
"The design of the first hotel is complete now and ready for tendering." Design work for the second hotel has also been approved by the relevant authorities and the company is scheduled to issue a construction tender. Covering 2.2 million square metres of land area including mountains, valleys and a curved beach front within a natural bay, the project will feature two luxury hotels, five residential zones, a recreational club, a park and retail outlets.
The project did face some delays due to existence of historically important graveyards from the bronze age within the vicinity and appropriate measures were taken to preserve the area.
Musandam Resort
Also, work on building the main complex of Musandam Resort is progressing as per the schedule. The company is building a 110 room resort, which is scheduled for completion at the end of 2013.
"Musandam Resort is for promoting domestic tourism. The rooms are designed to be large enough to accommodate Omani families," he further added.
Muscat: Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran), the investment arm of the government to develop tourism infrastructure, and its joint venture affiliates will add around 3,650 new hotel rooms in four and five star categories in the next five to seven years.
These projects, which include hotels coming up at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, Alila Jabal Akhdar Resort, Saraya Bandar Jissah, Muriya's hotels in Jebel Sifah and Salalah and Musandam Resort, are in different stages of planning, design and construction.
New hotels, resorts
"If you look at the convention centre, that alone will add 1,000 rooms, Muriya will add 1,500 rooms in Jebel Sifa and Salalah Beach, Saraya Bandar Jissah will add 350 rooms and Omran's other projects will add another 700 to 800 rooms as per the plan," said Eng Wael Al Lawati, chief executive officer of Omran.
Briefing the media on the achievements of the company and future plans, he said studies are also going on to expand the existing hotels. "If you look at four and five star categories, we will be more than doubling the capacity in the country," he said, adding; "We will also be focusing on affordable hotels. We are also studying and designing entertainment projects." Omran recently opened such a facility at Musannah Beach Hotel.
Cable car project
The company is now working on a cable car project in Jebel Shams in an attempt to provide associated entertainment elements.
Referring to the progress in building various hotels and tourism infrastructure projects, Eng Al Lawati said work on Alila Jabal Akhdar Resort in Al Jabal Al Akhhdar is 60 per cent complete now. "We hope to complete the work by the end of the year." Omran is building the 86 suite five-star Alila Jabal Akhdar Resort, which will be managed by the Singapore-based Alila Hotels and Resorts. Progress has already been achieved in building Saraya Bandar Jissah, an integrated tourism complex to come up in joint venture with Saraya Developments of Jordan.
"The design of the first hotel is complete now and ready for tendering." Design work for the second hotel has also been approved by the relevant authorities and the company is scheduled to issue a construction tender. Covering 2.2 million square metres of land area including mountains, valleys and a curved beach front within a natural bay, the project will feature two luxury hotels, five residential zones, a recreational club, a park and retail outlets.
The project did face some delays due to existence of historically important graveyards from the bronze age within the vicinity and appropriate measures were taken to preserve the area.
Musandam Resort
Also, work on building the main complex of Musandam Resort is progressing as per the schedule. The company is building a 110 room resort, which is scheduled for completion at the end of 2013.
"Musandam Resort is for promoting domestic tourism. The rooms are designed to be large enough to accommodate Omani families," he further added.
© Times of Oman 2013
