attractions: ecotourism oman 2012
The vast majority of Oman's 1,700 kilometres of coastline remains unspoiled, a fact that ensures the country's wilderness and wildlife are allowed to thrive as nature intended. Oman is home to an extensive variety of wildlife, from dolphins and whales to birds and turtles. The opportunities to spy these animals in their natural habitats are many, making it a hugely popular destination with wildlife enthusiasts from all over the world.
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM INITIATIVES Responsible tourism is an approach which
intends to minimise negative economic, environ- mental and social impact; generate greater economic benefits for local people and enhance the wellbeing of host communities; involve local people in decisions that affect their lives; make positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage; provide more enjoyable experiences for tourists through mean- ingful connections with local people; imbue a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues; and build local pride and confidence."Oman is very much moving with the times in this respect, and a variety of Ministry and NGO-led initiatives are now in place
to ensure that the environment is being protected and local people are being involved in new tourism initiatives. At Hud Hud we are continually striving to create a mutually beneficial balance and have a strict 'footprints only' policy when it comes to our camps and other activities," comments Sean Nelson, director, Hud Hud Travel. Corporate groups can get involved in a variety of sustainable projects in Oman. Eihab Travels, for example, runs a specialised honey tour to visit local beekeepers in northern Oman, and according to Robby George, manager, tours and MICE, the programme is proving to be a "highlight". "Beekeeping has been practiced since ancient times and the specialist beekeepers of northern Oman have developed great skill in obtaining honey and propagating bee colonies in a sustainable manner. In this region, larger honey bees are traditionally kept in the hollowed-out trunks of date palms, locally known as tubl. Apart from just visiting the farm, we provide our visitors with the opportunity to chat with farmers and their families over a cup of coffee or a traditional Omani lunch. The outcome is a positive cultural interaction between the guests and the host community, which we believe should be the ultimate aim of tourism," explains George.
Oman is home to a huge variety of wildlife, from dolphins and whales to birds and turtles. The opportunities to spy these animals in their natural habitats are many, making it a hugely popular destination
In addition to the successful honey tour package, Eihab Travels offer a programme aimed at supporting the weaving community of the Wadi Ghul area. "Even though these traditional weavers are part of many operators' itineraries, there has not been any coordinated effort to ensure that they benefit economically," says George.
He continues: "We have been passionate about people and communities. And subse- quently been noted for and have been quite successful in introducing an apparently para- doxical concept of 'Responsible MICE Tourism'. "We are always on the look-out for areas and opportunities where we could serve the communities better and ensure that they directly benefit from our activities and at the same time offer a positive cultural experi- ence for our clients. It is with the same keenness that we follow our guidelines while operating any event, trying our best to reduce the impact of our activities on nature, envi- ronment and local culture."
23
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80