Sur – The Arab Tourism Capital 2024
Celebrating Arab Tourism Day
In line with the Sultanate of Oman’s celebration of Arab Tourism Day, which falls on February 25 of each year, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism launches the executive program of Sur as the Arab Tourism Capital 2024 today, Sunday, under the patronage of Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Saeedi, Minister of Justice.
Marine Heritage Festival Inauguration
The program begins with the inauguration of the Marine Heritage Festival at 7:30 pm today, February 25, 2024, at the Al Sunayslah Fort in the Wilayat of Sur. It will include folkloric performances that reflect the history and civilization of the South Sharqiyah Governorate and its rich heritage and deep-rooted civilizational contribution.
Festival Attendees
The celebration will be attended by the Minister of Heritage and Tourism, Salem bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, the Secretary-General of the Arab Tourism Organization, Dr. Bandar bin Fahd Al Fahid, and a number of officials.
Festival Preparations
For its part, the organizing committee of the Sur Marine Heritage Festival has completed its preparations for the launch of its activities. It will be inaugurated today, Sunday, in the Wilayat of Sur in the South Sharqiyah Governorate at the Al Sunayslah Fort.
Sur Festival Details
Dr. Sheikh Hilal bin Ali Al Habsi, Wali of Sur and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Festival, confirmed that all preparations have been completed for the launch of the Sur Festival, which will continue until March 9th. It includes various recreational, promotional and cultural activities that achieve many economic and social goals and objectives and activate their outputs aimed at enhancing the role of tourism in economic diversification and supporting the national economy.
Celebrating Sur as the Capital
He explained that the festival comes in celebration of the selection of the Wilayat of Sur as the Arab Tourism Capital for this year, and it constitutes a qualitative addition to the efforts to enrich domestic tourism and empower the governorates to play their leading role in this framework. He pointed out that the forum is an opportunity to introduce the tourism and cultural components that distinguish the South Sharqiyah Governorate in general and the Wilayat of Sur in particular.
Festival Activities and Locations
He indicated that the festival’s activities will be held in several locations, including the Al Sunayslah Fort, Khor Al Batha, the Wilayat of Ras Al Hadd, and the Wilayat of Tiwi, to serve the festival’s visitors, facilitate their access, and avoid congestion.
Festival Events
He added that the festival will include various heritage, tourism and recreational activities and events, such as the heritage village, a marine village, an exhibition for productive families, a honey and dates exhibition, a corner for recreational and beach games, cultural and recreational activities, a horse show, and a boat race. Kite and sailing flying and laser shows will decorate the sky of the Tourism Capital throughout the days of the festival.
Selection of Sur as the Capital
It is worth noting that the Wilayat of Sur in the South Sharqiyah Governorate was selected on December 14, 2023 as the Arab Tourism Capital for 2024, during the 26th session of the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism held in the Qatari capital, Doha.
Selection Criteria
This selection comes in accordance with several criteria related to the availability of infrastructure and tourism resources, the diversity of tourism patterns and activities, policies and orientations for preserving the environment, the rich historical and cultural components, archaeological sites, and natural sites that attract tourists.
Efforts Behind the Selection
This selection embodies the efforts made by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and other relevant bodies to host the Wilayat of Sur for this important coronation, as the Wilayat combines many heritage, cultural and tourism components.
About Sur
The Wilayat of Sur in the South Sharqiyah Governorate, Sultanate of Oman, is one of the most beautiful areas that attract tourism. It is also considered the most important Wilayat in the South Sharqiyah Governorate, and it is its regional capital.
